Summer is here, and farmers’ markets across the province are in full swing! By shopping at a farmers’ market, you are already creating a positive impact by supporting local farmers and reducing your environmental footprint. But did you know you are also supporting farmed animal welfare?
Farmers’ markets are one of the best places to go if you want to find higher-welfare meat, eggs, and dairy products. Farmers’ markets provide an excellent opportunity for consumers to make humane food choices by speaking with the farmers. Farmers at the market take pride in what they do and are happy to share this information. Here are some questions you can ask to make more informed purchases next time you shop at your favourite market.
1. Does your farm have any animal welfare certifications?
Look for farms certified by Animal Welfare Approved, Certified Humane, Global Animal Partnership, or Organic. These programs certify farms that raise their animals to higher standards of care than the minimum required in Canada’s Codes of Practice. The programs verify that their standards are met through independent inspections of the farms. If your favourite farms aren’t certified, encourage them to consider it.
2. Are your animals raised indoors or outdoors on your farm?
Ideally, animals should spend most of their time on pasture or have daily outdoor access. If raised indoors, ensure they are not raised in individual or confinement housing systems, such as cages, crates, and stalls. Freedom of movement is important to ensuring the welfare of farmed animals. Look for cage-free, free-run, free-range, pasture-raised, or grass-fed and finished labels.
3. What kinds of enrichments are provided on your farm?
Enrichment improves animal welfare by enhancing animals’ physical and social environments. It can provide opportunities for animals to express their natural behaviours, reduce harmful or abnormal behaviours, increase the use of their space, and help them better deal with stress. For example, pigs enjoy rooting around in various materials with their noses, and chickens enjoy perching and roosting high.
4. Do you perform any physical alterations on your animals?
On conventional farms, animals are often subject to painful procedures for various reasons. For example, chickens may have their beaks trimmed to reduce outbreaks of feather pecking, and pigs may have their tails docked to prevent tail-biting. However, environmental enrichment, greater space allowances, and other management techniques reduce the need to perform these painful procedures.
5. How do you use antibiotics on your farm?
Responsible antibiotic use on farms is a clear example of the “One Welfare” concept, in which animal welfare, human health, and the environment are closely intertwined. On farms, antibiotics should not be given to healthy animals to promote faster growth or routinely to prevent disease – they should only be used when needed to treat sick animals. Responsible use helps prevent antibiotic resistance and ensures that sick animals can still receive the treatment they need to recover. Since animals and humans share many antibiotics, this also ensures that antibiotics will be available and effective if you or your family become sick.
Choosing more plant-based foods is another meaningful way to support animal welfare while benefiting your health and the planet – farmers’ markets are the perfect place to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables!
Your choices matter. Together, we can help create a more humane future for farmed animals.
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