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ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE

Version 4.0

Click to view all ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE

Key – Those standards which have greater significance (all other standards are normal)

Recommendation – Those which do not affect certification

New – A completely new standard which the member must now adhere to

Revised – A standard that has changed and requires the member to take some different or additional action to before

Upgraded – The standard has been upgraded to a Key standard or from a Recommendation to a full standard

Appendix – Referenced in ‘How you will be measured’. Indicates that additional information is provided in the Appendices, which are available at the end of each section.

This icon indicates that a record is required.

Where to find help – at the end of each section we have indicated where you can get extra guidance if you need it.

Aim:

ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE

MC.AW.1 Key

Standards

A system must be in place to check the health and welfare of all livestock by competent site personnel

How you will be measured

MC.AW.1.a

All livestock are checked at unloading or shortly after penning to ensure they are fit to be on-site.

MC.AW.1.b

All livestock are checked regularly for signs of distress, pain or injury while on-site.

MC.AW.1.c

Animals staying out of hours are checked evening, morning and on departure. * Note: the check on departure can be carried out by the haulier.

MC.AW.1.d

Name and contact of Animal Welfare Office (AWO) (and deputy if appointed) visible in Collection Centre.

MC.AW.2

Standards

A record of all welfare incidents that occur must be kept (Revised)

How you will be measured

MC.AW.2.a

Records are kept with information about the investigation and corrective actions.

MC.AW.2.b

Evidence of an annual review of the welfare incident book by the animal welfare officer.
  • Welfare incident book
  • Welfare incident book with evidence of annual review by AWO

MC.AW.3 Key

Standards

Livestock are handled appropriately (Revised)

How you will be measured

MC.AW.3.a

Livestock are handled in a manner without frightening and excessive force not in a way to cause pain and suffering. * Refer to Red Tractor Appendix for definition of unacceptable behaviour with regards to livestock handling.

MC.AW.4 Key

Standards

Handling aids used on site must be suitable for the species and used appropriately

How you will be measured

MC.AW.4.a

Handling aids are not used in such a way it could cause pain, injury or distress.

MC.AW.4.b

Handling aids used by any user on site include: - Paddles, rattles, flags, bags - Wooden sticks (cattle and sheep only), with no sharp points. - Boards (pigs)

MC.AW.5

Standards

Electric goads are used by a competent person in the correct manner when all other options have been exhausted

How you will be measured

MC.AW.5.a

Electric goads are used only in accordance with the documented procedure.

MC.AW.5.b

Aids which administer electric shocks are only used as a last resort by trained persons.

MC.AW.5.c

Electric goads are only used on mature cattle, which refuse to move, but have room ahead of them to do so. Goads are not used on any other species.

MC.AW.5.d

Electric goads are only used on the muscles of the hindquarters. The shocks last no longer than 1 second and are adequately spaced. Goads are not used repeatedly if an animal fails to respond.

Electric goad procedure

MC.AW.6 Key

Standards

Immediate and appropriate action for unfit animals must be taken

How you will be measured

MC.AW.6.a

There is a clear policy for how to deal with animals who are deemed unfit on arrival or becomes injured/unwell while on-site.

MC.AW.6.b

There is a clear policy on how emergency euthanasia of livestock is managed, including how a competent person can be on site within 60 mins.
  • Unfit animal procedures
  • Emergency euthanasia procedure

MC.AW.7

Standards

Livestock must be grouped appropriately (Revised)

How you will be measured

MC.AW.7.a

Livestock are maintained in the groups they arrived in until sorted for onward consignment to avoid bullying, injury or distress. Avoid mixing (unless previously managed together): - different species - animals of different sizes - animals from different sections of the delivery vehicle - horned with un-horned cattle - sexually mature males and females - sexually mature entire males

MC.AW.7.b

Fractious livestock are penned and handled appropriately, and moved from site when it is safe to do so.

MC.AW.7.c

For field lairage situations, stocking densities are manged to ensure the field isn’t excessively poached and livestock are not overcrowded.

MC.AW.8

Standards

Systems must be in place to ensure livestock are penned with sufficient space allowances to ensure animals are not overcrowded

How you will be measured

MC.AW.8.a

Sufficient space allowances are provided in accordance with the Appendix and adjusted if necessary, e.g. as a result of humidity, temperature, duration of journey, length of stay or on the advice of the AWO or their deputies.

MC.AW.8.b

Calves and young lambs (including those at foot) have sufficient space to all lie down at the same time.

MC.AW.9

Standards

Additional provisions are given to specific categories of livestock to deliver their welfare needs

How you will be measured

MC.AW.9.a

Calves, young lambs (<4 weeks) and dairy cows in milk provided with a bedding material, straw or wood shavings, sufficient to provide thermal/physical comfort.

MC.AW.10

Standards

All pigs must be provided with permanent access to enrichment (e.g. straw, hay, wood, sawdust, rope, soft wood, deformable plastic pipe) 

MC.AW.11

Standards

Dairy cows with overstocked udders must be milked prior to onward consignment

How you will be measured

MC.AW.11.a

Milking undertaken by a competent person.

MC.AW.11.b

Equipment is disinfected between cows from different farms.

MC.AW.12 Key

Standards

Facilities for providing fresh, clean drinking water to livestock must be available and provided as necessary to meet welfare needs

How you will be measured

MC.AW.12.a

Pigs provided with constant access to water and cattle and sheep offered water within 8 hours from arrival.

MC.AW.12.b

AWO responsible for identifying if water needs to be provided to individuals/groups of livestock and ensuring it is provided when needed.

MC.AW.12.c

Adequate facilities in the form of troughs, buckets, drinking bowls or other drinking devices are available for watering animals.

MC.AW.13 Key

Standards

Suitable feed must be available and provided as necessary to meet welfare needs

How you will be measured

MC.AW.13.a

For overnight lairage, feed is provided within 12 hours of arrival on site.

MC.AW.13.b

AWO responsible for identifying if feed needs to be provided to ensure welfare needs are met.

MC.AW.13.c

Suitable feed is stored on-site or easily available, including for overnight lairage.

MC.AW.13.d

Forages are sourced from merchants with a warranty declaration or direct from a farm with a record of supply details.

MC.AW.13.e

Compound feeds, for example nuts, are sourced from assured suppliers or manufacturers (UFAS, FEMAS certified or equivalent).

MC.AW.13.f

Feed purchase records are kept for two years detailing; - Supplier name - Supplier assurance details for bagged, compound feed - Date of delivery - Feed type - Volume

MC.AW.13.g

Feed is provided in a way that animals can access sufficient feed.
  • Forage warranty declaration
  • Feed purchase records

MC.AW.14

Standards

Livestock must be held on-site for the minimum time

How you will be measured

MC.AW.14.a

Evidence that the AGO licence’s timing are being upheld.

MC.AW.15

Standards

Pigs are not kept on site for more than 48 hours

  • AW.1 – AWO contact details should also be visible in the areas used to hold stock out of hours
  • AW.4 – Handling aids are only used to guide and direct the movement of the animal