Livestock Mortality and Fallen Stock Welfare

Farm animal mortality — from disease, injury, and management failures — represents one of the largest sources of welfare compromise in commercial livestock production.

Key Facts

Broiler chicken mortality averages 3-5% of placements in UK commercial flocks
Dairy cow mortality has increased in parallel with rising milk yield selection pressure
Fallen stock regulations require timely collection and disposal of dead animals
Animals that die slowly from disease or injury without intervention represent a serious welfare failure
Mortality rates are a key welfare indicator audited by many certification schemes

Welfare Considerations

Livestock mortality is both a welfare endpoint and a welfare indicator. Animals that die on farm from disease, injury, or exhaustion have experienced welfare failure during the period preceding death. High mortality rates indicate systemic welfare problems in housing, management, or genetics. Welfare-conscious farming requires mortality rate monitoring, investigation of causes above baseline, and rapid veterinary intervention for sick or injured animals rather than allowing natural death to occur without palliation.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certification schemes with mortality rate benchmarks and improvement requirements
Ask food companies whether their suppliers monitor and report mortality data
Advocate for mandatory mortality reporting for commercial livestock operations
Engage producers on investigating and addressing root causes of elevated mortality
Support research into welfare-improving interventions that reduce mortality in commercial livestock