Welfare Science

Welfare Science: Animal Agriculture and Worker Welfare

Animal welfare and farm worker welfare are linked - stressful working conditions affect how workers interact with animals, creating feedback loops between human and animal welfare.

Key Facts

Slaughterhouse workers have higher rates of PTSD than other occupations
Physical and psychological demands of intensive livestock work are high
Low pay and poor conditions in animal agriculture contribute to poor welfare outcomes
Worker attitudes toward animals affect handling quality and animal stress
Improving worker conditions is an indirect but significant animal welfare intervention

Welfare Considerations

Workers who are stressed, poorly paid or inadequately trained interact differently with animals than those in good working conditions. The link between human welfare and animal welfare in food systems means improving worker welfare has direct animal welfare benefits and vice versa.

What You Can Do

Support fair trade and labour standard certification in animal products
Advocate for slaughterhouse worker mental health support programmes
Engage with food system reform that addresses worker and animal welfare together
Support organisations working on the intersection of human and animal welfare in food systems