Mortality Recording on Farms: A Welfare Accountability Tool

Systematic mortality recording on livestock farms provides a welfare accountability measure and enables identification of underlying problems before they escalate.

Key Facts

Animal mortality is a legally reportable event in many jurisdictions
Mortality rates benchmarked against industry averages can identify farms with systemic welfare problems
Causes of death should be recorded to identify disease patterns and management failures
Post-mortem examination of dead animals provides diagnostic information unavailable in living animals
Acceptable mortality benchmarks vary by species: broilers under 4%, finishing pigs under 4%, dairy cows under 5%
Farms with mortality above benchmarks are often experiencing disease, management, or welfare problems
Mortality data combined with veterinary health planning enables targeted problem-solving

Welfare Considerations

High mortality rates are a lagging indicator - animals have already suffered and died by the time the statistic accumulates. However, systematic recording creates accountability and enables earlier pattern detection than informal observation. Investigating mortality peaks and investigating individual deaths through post-mortem reveals the health and management problems causing suffering across the living population. Mortality recording is not just about compliance - it is a tool for identifying and preventing suffering.

What You Can Do

Maintain a complete mortality record for all livestock including date, animal identity, and suspected cause
Set farm-specific mortality benchmarks and investigate when rates exceed targets
Conduct post-mortem examination on a proportion of mortalities to confirm causes
Share mortality data with your farm vet at health planning visits
Use mortality patterns to guide preventive health interventions and management changes