Pest control on farms affects not just the target species but farm animals and wildlife. Welfare-conscious integrated pest management protects both livestock and non-target animals.
Pest control on farms creates welfare impacts beyond the target pest species. Anticoagulant rodenticides cause prolonged internal bleeding over several days before death — a significant welfare concern even for pest rodents. Secondary poisoning kills raptors, carnivores and other predators that consume poisoned prey, often causing the same prolonged suffering. The welfare-conscious approach to farm pest control prioritises prevention over treatment: securing feed stores, blocking entry points and maintaining clean yards reduces rodent populations without poison. Where rodenticides are necessary, first-generation alternatives cause less suffering than SGARs. The wildlife welfare dimension of farm pest control is an underappreciated element of comprehensive farm animal welfare assessment.