The wellbeing of farmers and the welfare of farm animals are interrelated. Financial pressure, isolation, and poor mental health affect both farmer decision-making and the animals in their care.
Animal welfare cannot be maximised without attention to the wellbeing of the people responsible for animals. Farmers under severe financial, climatic, or personal stress make different welfare decisions than those who are supported and economically viable. The correlation between farmer mental health and animal welfare outcomes is documented — distressed farmers produce more welfare problems, not because of bad intent, but because of reduced capacity for careful observation and intervention. Supporting farmer wellbeing and economic viability is therefore a welfare intervention for animals.