Farmed Species Diversity: Moving Beyond Chicken, Pig, and Cow

Global food systems are dominated by a handful of farmed animal species. Expanding species diversity may offer welfare opportunities, but each species brings unique welfare challenges that must be understood.

Key Facts

Four species — cattle, pigs, chickens, and sheep — account for the vast majority of global farmed animal production
Alternative farmed species including rabbits, quail, ducks, emus, and bison are promoted as sustainable alternatives but have their own welfare needs
Insect farming represents the most dramatic species diversification, with potentially lower welfare costs if sentience is limited
Some alternative species are better adapted to extensive systems that may offer welfare advantages over intensive chicken or pig production
Each alternative farmed species requires species-specific welfare research before being scaled commercially
The welfare of less common farmed species often receives less regulatory attention than major production animals
Consumer demand for dietary variety can drive production system diversification, with welfare implications that vary by species and system
Aquaculture diversification through farming of new fish and invertebrate species must be accompanied by welfare research

Welfare Considerations

Farmed species diversification offers potential welfare opportunities and risks in equal measure. A well-managed rabbit farm where animals can burrow and express natural behaviors may offer better welfare than an intensive chicken system. But a poorly managed emu farm may offer worse welfare than a well-managed poultry operation. The welfare value of species diversification depends entirely on whether the new species are farmed in ways that meet their specific biological and behavioral needs. Diversification without welfare consideration can simply spread suffering to new species rather than reducing it.

What You Can Do

Research the welfare standards applied to any novel farmed species before purchasing products from them
Support welfare research programs investigating the needs of less-studied farmed species
Advocate for welfare regulations to cover all farmed species, not just the most commercially prominent
Choose alternative animal proteins only from systems with verified welfare standards rather than assuming novelty implies better welfare
Support plant-based protein diversification as a welfare-neutral alternative to animal-based species diversification
Engage with agricultural policy discussions about species diversification to ensure welfare considerations are included