31 July 2003

Dear Sir/Madam

Consultation on stockmanship and its enhancement in relation to Animal Welfare

The Farm Animal Welfare Council has long recognised the significant influence of the stockperson on the welfare of farm animals and previous FAWC Reports have highlighted the importance of good stockmanship and its vital role in enhancing animal welfare.

The Council considers that the provision of more guidance in this area would benefit animal welfare and has therefore decided to produce a report to make recommendations to Government on mechanisms for the enhancement of the quality of stockmanship.

We feel that this initiative will help to enhance animal welfare and will highlight the complexity of the very demanding job of stockpeople, especially under ever hightening economic pressures where staff are beinjg reduced and the number of animals in the care of wach stockperson increases. We also believe that it will serve to place a strong focus on their crucial role in enhancing the health, welfare and productivity of livestock. We hope that this will also help to alleviate the current difficulties in recruiting new replacement stockpeople of high potential.

We would appreciate your views, particularly on the areas set out below, along with any other considerations relevant to maintaining the basis of a knowledgeable, skilled and motivated livestock industry workforce capable of sustaining acceptable standards of animal welfare. Particular areas on which we would appreciate your comments are as follows:

i. The adequacy of existing provisions for effective education and training (and continuing professional development) for livestock farmers and stockpeople, in view of the comprehensive knowledge and wide range of skills required to enhance the animals' welfare.
ii. The very low training culture in livestock industries has been highlighted in recent reports. What do you consider are the reasons for this and how might the training culture be enhanced?
iii. The possible reasons for the low uptake of opportunities towards National Vocational Qualification (VQ) attainment in the livestock industries.
iv. The current and likely future availability of high quality trainers to further enhance the high capabilities of competent livestock farmers and stockpeople.
v. The adequacy of current provisions for training to further enhance farm animal welfare.
vi. The relative merits of (1) College-based vocational training and (2) training in the workplace (ie. on the farm) for young stockpeople.
vii. In the case of experienced livestock farmers and stockpeople, what are the relative merits of (1) on-farm training which is purpose-built to needs, (2) community group training at a central location and (3) self-learning?
viii. The range of potential dividends from high quality regular, progressive on-farm training in animal husbandry and welfare.
ix. The value of 'good husbandry' (ie. a soundly designed production system, good management and stockmanship) as a key to achieving and maintaining high standards of animal welfare?
x. Who should pay for high quality training to enhance animal health and welfare ? Should training be financed by the industry or should it be subsidised by Government?
xi. The provision of high quality training to livestock farmers and stockpeople as a useful complement to Farm Assurance initiatives to further enhance animal welfare and health?
xii. The effectiveness of transfer of relevant knowledge and technologies from research to practice to enhance farm animal welfare at the present time.

We would appreciate your views on these and other factors which you consider to be important in relation to enhancing the quality of stockmanship and improving farm animal welfare.

In addition to this consultation exercise, we may write to some organisations with specific questions as work progresses. Some may also be invited to discussions with the Group. Normally FAWC reports list the names of the organisations that gave evidence. Should you prefer to be excluded from the list, please let us know when you reply.

If you believe there are any important omissions from the list of consultees, I should be obliged if you would let me have the name and address of an appropriate contact.

FAWC thanks you for your co-operation and looks forward to receiving your comments by 30 September 2003.

Yours sincerely

Kumu Adhihetty
FAWC SECRETARIAT