Wildlife-Friendly Farming and Animal Welfare

Farming practices that create wildlife-friendly habitats can significantly improve welfare for wildlife populations living within agricultural landscapes.

Key Facts

Agri-environment schemes in the UK provide over 700 million pounds annually for wildlife-friendly farming
Overwinter stubble provides critical food for farmland birds including yellowhammer and corn bunting
Wild bird seed mixes feed up to 20 times more birds per hectare than conventional crops
Hedgerow management affects the density of nesting birds, small mammals, and invertebrates
Water margins and field margins provide habitat corridors for wildlife movement

Welfare Considerations

Agricultural intensification since the 1970s has dramatically reduced food and habitat available to farmland wildlife, causing population crashes that represent significant welfare harm across millions of individuals. Wildlife-friendly farming practices restore the food availability and habitat quality that allow farmland birds, mammals, and invertebrates to achieve good individual welfare outcomes. Animals with adequate food resources maintain better body condition, reproduction, and immune function.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment scheme requirements that deliver wildlife habitat
Choose food from farms with explicit wildlife-friendly management policies
Advocate for wildlife-friendly farming requirements in agricultural subsidy systems
Back extension services that support farmers in implementing wildlife habitat
Join farm walks and wildlife surveys that monitor the outcomes of friendly farming