Animal welfare: Other farmed species
The welfare of all farmed animals is protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal. The Act also contains a duty of care to animals – anyone responsible for an animal must take reasonable steps to make sure the animal’s welfare needs are met.
The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 set minimum standards for all farm animals. These Regulations replaced the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000 on 1st October 2007. The new Regulations are made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and are very similar to the previous Regulations.
This page gives advice on the species that are not covered by individual species-specific sections.
Further information of the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 is available.
Fish
In addition to the general requirements of the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 we are working towards further improvements in fish welfare by other means.
The Council of Europe’s Standing Committee on the welfare of animals kept for farming purposes adopted a recommendation on fish in December 2005. It is now working on species specific appendices.
Defra's research and development programme includes projects on certain aspects of fish welfare. We will use the findings to support our objective to ensure high standards of fish welfare. .
Horses
The welfare of farmed horses, or those used for agricultural purposes, is protected by the general provisions of the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. The welfare of all horses is protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The equine industry and welfare organisations have produced guidelines for the welfare of all horses, ponies and donkeys called The Equine Industry Welfare Guidelines Compendium for Horse, Ponies and Donkeys (second edition). The National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) has ownership of this important welfare document and it can be downloaded from the NEWC website.
For further information on Government equine policy and the horse industry please see Defra's Gateway to equine issues in Government pages on the Defra website.
Ducks and Geese
The welfare of ducks and geese is protected by the general requirements of the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. There is also a code of recommendations for the welfare of ducks, which continues to apply under the new Animal Welfare Act. *
Goats
The welfare of goats is protected by the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. There is also a code of recommendations for the welfare of goats,which continues to apply under the new Animal Welfare Act.*
Rabbits
The welfare of rabbits is protected by the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. Schedule 9 of these Regulations contains specific conditions that apply to the keeping of rabbits.. There is also a code of recommendations for the welfare of rabbits, which continues to apply under the new Animal Welfare Act. *
There have also been discussions to develop recommendations in the Council of Europe, under the Convention on the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes.
As there is no longer an industry body for commercial rabbit keepers, we would welcome commercial farmers contacting us to give their details for future consultation. Please email aw-onfarm@defra.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 0207 238 5862.
Deer
The welfare of deer is protected by the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. There is also a code of recommendations for the welfare of deer which continues to apply under the new Animal Welfare Act.*
Turkeys
The welfare of turkeys are protected by the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. There is also a code of recommendations for the welfare of turkey which continues to apply under the new Animal Welfare Act.*
Ratites (Emu, Ostrich, Rhea)
The farming of emu, ostrich and rhea (ratites) caters for a niche market in the UK. The welfare of ratites are protected by the general requirements in the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. There are also Council of Europe recommendations on the welfare of farmed ratites which offer guidance on the standards that should apply.
* Note on Codes of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock
The existing Codes of Recommendations for the welfare of livestock continue to apply, however, with the introduction of the Act and the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007, the references to the legislation throughout the code are now out of date. Whilst the vast majority of the 2000 Regulations are replicated by the 2007 Regulations, you should check the legislation as it currently stands.
Page last modified:
11 February, 2008
Page published: 5 August 2002