Contributions FAI has Towards Animal
Welfare
By Erica Chamney

 Food animal producers formed FAI in 1989
 Farm is located in Wytham, Oxforshire
 Researches alternative livestock operations
 Animal welfare
 The environment
 Human health
 Economical concerns

 To develop sustainable farm systems that provide discernable benefits to animal welfare, the environment and human health.
 To demonstrate the success of these systems through practical and commercial application.
 To breed animals that are fit for their environment.
 To supply knowledge to commercial farmers and other interested parties.

 Currently made up of 5 Directors
 Various sources of income
 Oxford University
 Sponsors (McDonalds and TESCO)
 Organic Grassland managed by UTTESASCS
 Live animal markets
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Other breeders or farmer
Packers/ Processors

 Farm has 1050 acres
 250 used for pasture
 Rest is organic grassland

 Food Animal Species located at Wytham Farm
 20, 000 free-range table birds
 2,000 laying hens
 Flock of 1,000 sheep
 Cow herd of 120
 500 turkeys
 Developmental pig unit

 Saler X Saler suckler cows
 Sell to other breeders
 Finish for beef production

How has FAI impacted the cattle industry?
 Main use of antibiotics in cattle is for respiratory diseases
 Loss of performance and death loss still likely
 FAI Resolution
 Implemented animal welfare practices
 Focused on dairy cattle

 Uses “traditional” breeds
 Incorporates Gloucester breed for pork quality
 Sows kept in natural environments with 5 sows to a pen
 Piglets are do NOT have their teeth clipped or their tails docked
 Fed a combination of forage and grain
 Change in consumer demand

 Males have a higher risk of tainted meat
 Pigs kept in unsanitary conditions run a risk of tainted meat
 Wallowing in their own faeces and urine
 Skatole in faeces causes tainted pork

How has FAI impacted the swine industry?
 The FAI responded to this issue
 By selecting breeds for quality pork
 Pigs are kept in spacious pens that allow them to feed, wallow, defaecate/urinate, an sleep in separate areas
 The pigs are late weaned (after 6 months)
 Moved with family groups occasionally to prepare for transportation
 Changes in diet are avoided

 Both chickens and turkeys roam in natural environments
 1 cockerel to every 10 females
 Chicks are reared on the farm or sold as day-old chicks to other farmers
 Fun Fact: The hatchery is relatively new and is one of the few “true organic” hatcheries in the UK

 After hatchery, bids are housed
 Farmyard and range noises are played for them so that they get use to the sounds that will soon surround them in the environment
 The free-range birds grow 2x slower than conventional birds
 But the eating quality is better
 Once broilers are on the range they are provided greenery, dust baths, and space

Lets take a look at the turkey industry
 The FAI farms made an investment in free-range turkeys for consumer demand in 2007
 Purchase in July and sell for the perfect Christmas dinner
 400 turkeys and it is first come – first serve policy

Facts on injurious pecking in turkeys
 Two current methods to reduce pecking
 Housing with minimal lighting
 Disadvantages - FAWC Appendix 3 presented abnormalities
 Light is available but beaks are trimmed
 Causes problems with normal eating behavior

How did FAI impact the turkey industry?
 Implemented animal welfare practices that reduces injurious pecking
 Turkeys are on range majority of the day
 Whole grain is provided in the diet
 Enrichments are provided
 Straw is provided 2x/day

 Mules X Coopworth
 Mules X Suffolk
 Ewes lamb in April and are ready for the market in
October

Facts on Sheep
(more specifically males)
 Castration is not painless
 no matter the age
 Even with anesthetics
 Uses of castration in ram lambs
 supposedly reduce tainting in meat
 Management tool
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Reduces aggression towards other rams
Infertility

How has FAI impacted the sheep industry?
 “Short Scrotum”
 A ring is applied with in the first week of life under the testes. This process pushes the testes close to the body cavity and in turn is infertile
 Testing the quality of meat and the eaten experiences in castrated and intact wethers and rams respectively.
 This will determine the necessity of castration

 Farm-scale research done by the FAI farm has provided numerous advantages and disadvantages to alternative food animal operation practices that could improve or disregard animal welfare.

 Visit the FAI official website http://www.faifarms.co.uk/ and become a Friend of the FAI and you will receive the Friend of the FAI
Newsletter
 Contact the director on the website via e-mail
 VISIT THE FARMS!
 Always have educational tours for all ages
 Two animal welfare classes though Oxford University
(for locals)