Dedicated farm animal welfare officers, both within farming businesses and regulatory bodies, play a critical role in improving welfare outcomes, but are chronically under-resourced across the sector.
Without dedicated welfare oversight, everyday welfare compromises including lame animals, untreated injuries and inadequate water go unaddressed for extended periods. Welfare officers with authority and resources can implement systemic improvements that individual stockpeople cannot make. The evidence is clear that dedicated welfare oversight at farm level improves outcomes independently of regulatory inspection.