Animal Health and Welfare, Human Well-being, Food Security and Sustainability 53
potential for crop and animal diseases or climate-related impacts (Devitt and
Hanlon, 2018). Improved animal welfare can result in better farmer job sat-
isfaction and contributions to corporate social responsibility, as well as the
ability to command higher prices from consumers (Dawkins, 2017).
Farmers having a good state of health, business, income, social well-being
and farming knowledge and skills are more likely to provide better husbandry
and management practices that result in better animal welfare. Elements such
as job satisfaction (Devitt and Hanlon, 2018), peer pressure, trade markets
or social concern can have an impact on the well-being of farmers. Studies
report that social concern has had an effect on the behaviour of farmers that
impacts on animal welfare. This may be for economic reasons but may also be
due to the attitudes of the farmers and their families, and the public in general
(Mazas et al., 2013). The presence of a positive farmer–livestock bond is also
important (Devitt and Hanlon, 2018), with variables including how motivated
the farmers are and whether they have time available to carry out welfare-oriented
tasks (Waiblinger et al., 2006; Kauppinen et al., 2013).
Case Study 13 – Early warning/intervention system (EWS) (by FAWAC, Ireland)
The early warning/intervention system (EWS) is an Irish initiative, introduced in
2004 by the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (FAWAC) involving the cen-
tral government (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, DAFM); the
farming community (Irish Farmers’ Association, IFA, and the Irish Creamery Milk
Suppliers Association, ICMSA); and the animal protection sector (Irish Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ISPCA). The EWS implements the One
Welfare approach by providing a framework within which farm animal welfare
issues can be identified before they become critical or overwhelming. This has
proved to be a very successful animal welfare initiative and the positive approach
adopted by its participants has brought greater awareness to the diverse causes of
animal welfare problems, allowing intervention at an earlier stage and so pre-
venting chronic welfare scenarios to develop for at-risk animals. EWS is now
operating throughout the country.
The role of An Garda Síochána (i.e. the police force of the Republic of Ireland) is also
recognized and each Garda division has nominated an identifiable point-of-contact for
other participants in the EWS. Other agencies, for example the Health Service Executive
(HSE) and private veterinary practitioners, are called upon if they are needed.
The guiding principles of the EWS are that the primary responsibility for the
care and welfare of farm animals rests at all times with the farmer. Where actual
or potential welfare problems are identified, the earliest possible intervention is
desirable, and confidentiality is a fundamental aspect to the success of the EWS.
Two examples of successful scenarios addressed by the EWS follow.
Case 1: Herd Keeper
A single male in his early 40s lived with his 80-year-old mother in an old residence
that was in serious disrepair. A phone call to the District Veterinary Office reported
that there were dead animals on the farm, and a visit was organized. Dead animals
were found and the general situation was one of severe overstocking, no grass,
cattle in very poor condition and lack of adequate supplementary feed. The herd
Continued
