Farm welfare audits are a key mechanism for identifying and improving welfare outcomes, but their effectiveness depends on design, frequency and follow-up.
The quality of welfare audits determines their welfare value. Tick-box compliance schemes that focus on physical resources (space per animal, water trough provision) rather than animal outcomes can miss significant suffering. Audits that assess lameness scores, body condition, cleanliness and injury prevalence capture actual welfare outcomes. Follow-up support and accountability systems determine whether audit findings translate into welfare improvements.