Farm Animal Welfare in Developing Countries

The majority of farmed animals live in lower- and middle-income countries where welfare standards, veterinary capacity, and regulatory enforcement are limited.

Key Facts

Over 70% of the world's livestock are raised in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, often under smallholder or extensive systems.
Smallholder livestock often have better welfare outcomes than intensive industrial systems in some dimensions (outdoor access, natural behaviour), but worse in others (veterinary care, nutrition).
Veterinary capacity in many LMICs is severely limited — animals suffer from preventable disease and injuries that go untreated.
Industrial animal agriculture is rapidly expanding in developing regions, often adopting intensive systems without accompanying welfare standards.
International trade in animal products creates leverage for importing countries to require minimum welfare standards.
Organisations including FAO, OIE/WOAH, and WSPA work to build welfare capacity in lower-income countries.

Welfare Considerations

Farm animal welfare in developing countries presents a complex picture that defies simple narratives. Traditional pastoral and smallholder systems often provide animals with space, social groups, and natural behaviour, while intensive industrial expansion imports welfare-poor systems without the regulatory safeguards that emerged (however inadequately) in high-income settings. Building welfare capacity in lower-income countries requires investment in veterinary training, accessible veterinary medicines, farmer education, and regulatory frameworks — not imposition of standards appropriate only for high-income contexts. International trade policy has significant leverage: welfare requirements for imported animal products create economic incentives for improvement in exporting countries. Supporting WOAH capacity-building programmes is one of the most globally impactful welfare investments available.

What You Can Do

Support World Animal Protection's farm animal welfare programmes in key developing country markets.
Advocate for animal welfare provisions in international trade agreements your country negotiates.
Donate to veterinary capacity-building initiatives in lower-income livestock-producing countries.
Engage with companies sourcing animal products from developing countries to require and verify welfare standards.