Welfare Science

Soil Health and Farm Animal Welfare

Soil health underpins farm animal welfare through its effects on pasture quality, parasite burden, and the nutritional value of grazed vegetation, connecting land management and animal welfare.

Key Facts

Healthy soil supports diverse pasture plants with better nutritional profiles for grazing animals
Soil compaction from overgrazing reduces pasture regrowth affecting livestock nutrition
Parasite larvae survive on pasture, with soil conditions affecting their persistence
Organic matter levels in soil affect water retention and drought resilience for livestock systems
Regenerative agriculture approaches that improve soil health often improve livestock welfare simultaneously

Welfare Considerations

Soil health and livestock welfare are intimately connected through the pasture ecosystem. Land management that degrades soil undermines the nutritional foundation of pastoral farming welfare. Regenerative approaches that build soil health create better conditions for both animal welfare and ecosystem services.

What You Can Do

Support farming systems that build soil health through rotational grazing and organic matter management
Engage with the connections between soil health, pasture quality, and animal welfare
Choose animal products from farms practising regenerative or organic soil management