Lower incomes, tighter profit margins and a flood of food imports mean livestock farmers are being forced to cut corners, a meeting of the British Veterinary Association animal welfare forum was told last Wednesday (24 May).

BVA president elect David Catlow said the association needed to get the message across to policy makers and the government that demand for cheaper food was having unintended consequences.

"Until food policy changes and there is more profitability at the farm gate, we will continue to see problems.

We need to re-emphasise the point that our cheap food policy is having a detrimental effect on animal welfare."

Faced with falling profits, farmers were working harder, reducing costs and keeping more animals.

Source: FWi