Practical Application of the Five Domains Animal Welfare Framework for Supply Food Animal Chain Managers

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The Five Domains model is being increasingly used as a framework for assessing animal welfare on farms. This commentary is focused on the practical application of the Five Domains by supply chain managers who buy food animal products and often work in global supply chains. Assessments used in commercial supply chains need to be simpler than assessment tools used in scientific research. There needs to be very clear guidance on conditions that should result in a failed audit. Welfare auditors can be easily trained to assess animal-based outcome measures such as body condition score, foot pad lesions on poultry or lameness. A farm would also have to have the type of housing that is specified in the buyer’s welfare guidelines. Easy to evaluate animal welfare indicators should be included in each of the four domains of nutrition, environment, health, and behavioral interaction. ABSTRACT: The author has worked as a consultant with global commercial supply managers for over 20 years. The focus of this commentary will be practical application of The Five Domains Model in commercial systems. Commercial buyers of meat need simple easy-to-use guidelines. They have to use auditors that can be trained in a workshop that lasts for only a few days. Auditing of slaughter plants by major buyers has resulted in great improvements. Supply chain managers need clear guidance on conditions that would result in a failed audit. Animal based outcome measures that can be easily assessed should be emphasized in commercial systems. Some examples of these key animal welfare indicators are: percentage of animals stunned effectively with a single application of the stunner, percentage of lame animals, foot pad lesions on poultry, and body condition scoring. A farm that supplies a buyer must also comply with housing specifications. The farm either has the specified housing or does not have it. It will be removed from the approved supplier list if housing does not comply. These types of easy to assess indicators can be easily evaluated within the four domains of nutrition, environment, health and behavioral interactions. The Five Domains Framework can also be used in a program for continuous improvement of animal welfare.