Farm-level welfare assessment using outcome-based indicators allows meaningful comparison of welfare across farms and drives improvement at sites with poorest outcomes.
Outcome-based welfare assessment transforms welfare from a box-ticking exercise to measurable improvement: farms assessed only on inputs (stocking density, litter type) can comply formally while achieving poor welfare; farms assessed on outcomes (lameness rates, mortality, injury prevalence) must demonstrate actual welfare achievement. The shift to outcome-based assessment in major UK certification schemes has driven measurable improvement in welfare indicators across certified flocks. The remaining challenge is extending outcome assessment to uncertified production.