Welfare Science

Farm to Fork: Welfare Across the Food Supply Chain

Animal welfare depends on decisions made at every stage of the food supply chain, from breeding and rearing to transport, slaughter, and retail.

Key Facts

Breeding choices determine baseline health and welfare capacity of farm animals
On-farm management accounts for most of an animal's welfare experience
Transport and pre-slaughter handling are critical high-stress points
Slaughter method significantly affects the welfare of the final moments of life
Retail and consumer choices drive producer incentives across the chain

Welfare Considerations

Improving animal welfare requires attention to every supply chain stage. Breeding for production traits at the expense of health creates lifelong welfare deficits. Poor on-farm management — inadequate space, enrichment, or health care — causes chronic suffering. Transport stress can undo months of good on-farm welfare. Slaughter conditions that are inhumane cause fear and pain. Consumer demand for high welfare products incentivises improvement throughout.

What You Can Do

Ask food companies for farm-to-fork welfare transparency including breeding, farming, and slaughter standards
Support certification schemes with supply chain auditing
Advocate for farm-to-fork welfare labelling on all animal products
Learn about the welfare hotspots in the supply chains of products you buy
Engage with supply chain reform campaigns by Compassion in World Farming