Official and private welfare auditing systems play an essential role in identifying and addressing welfare problems on farms, with audit quality determining effectiveness.
Effective welfare auditing requires visiting farms when welfare problems are most likely to occur, assessing animal-based outcomes rather than just documentation compliance, and having auditors with sufficient knowledge to detect subtle welfare problems. Unannounced inspections increase detection of genuine welfare conditions. Supporting high-quality audit systems through consumer pressure for robust scheme standards and appropriate public funding of official inspection is essential.