Research consistently shows that the welfare of farm workers and the animals they care for are closely connected, with poor working conditions undermining animal care quality.
The human who interacts most directly with farm animals every day is the critical link between policy and practice. When stockpeople are overworked, undertrained, poorly paid or emotionally distressed by their working conditions, animal welfare suffers. Research shows that positive human-animal relationships — where animals are not fearful of handlers — significantly improve production outcomes and welfare indicators. Farms that invest in worker training, fair wages and manageable workloads see measurable improvements in animal care. The welfare of farm workers is therefore not separate from but integral to the welfare of farm animals. Advocacy for labour rights in agriculture is animal welfare advocacy.