The business case for higher animal welfare is increasingly well-documented, with evidence that welfare improvements often reduce costs while accessing premium markets.
The argument that higher animal welfare is economically viable — or even economically beneficial — is increasingly well-supported by evidence. The most common welfare problems in intensive farming (tail biting, lameness, respiratory disease, aggression) represent both animal suffering and economic losses that welfare improvements address simultaneously. Producers who implement enrichment, reduce stocking densities, and improve husbandry typically find that the welfare investment pays through reduced disease, mortality, and behavioral problems. The premium market for certified welfare products provides additional revenue that more than offsets higher input costs in most analyzed cases. The economic and ethical cases for welfare improvement are aligned, not competing.