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This paper describes a case example where initiatives from private assurance schemes, scientists, charities, government and egg companies have improved the welfare of UK cage-free laying hens. The RSPCA and Soil Association farm assurance schemes introduced formal welfare outcome assessment into their annual audits of laying-hen farms in 2011. Feather loss was assessed on 50 birds from each flock on a three-point scale for two body regions: Head and Neck (HN) and Back and Vent (BV). In support of the observations, assessors were trained in feedback techniques designed to encourage change in farmer behaviour to improve welfare. In addition, during Year 2 farmers were asked about changes they had made, and intended to make on their farms. During 2011-2013 there were also wider industry initiatives to improve feather cover. Data were analysed from 830 and 743 farms in Year I and Year 2, respectively. From Year I to Year 2 there was a significant reduction in the prevalence of feather loss from 31.8% (9.6% severe) to 20.8% (6% severe) for the HN region, and from 33.1% (12.6% severe) to 22.7% (8.3% severe) for BV. Fifty-nine percent of 662 farmers reported they had made changes on their farms during Year I to improve bird welfare. For such a substantial industry change, attributing causation to specific initiatives is difficult; however, this is the first study to demonstrate the value to animal welfare of certification schemes monitoring the effectiveness of their own and other industry-led interventions to guide future policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on outcome-based assessment in farm assurance schemes and how farmers can maximize them. The authors define farm assurance schemes as voluntary certification schemes aimed at giving consumers and retailers assurances on animal welfare, environment and food safety standards. They assert that existing schemes focus only on resource-based standards. They raised the importance of considering the economic, education, encouragement and enforcement drivers for animal welfare.

The article presents an animal welfare science project evaluating the inclusion of welfare outcome measures into Great Britain pig farm assurance illustrating potential challenges between science and industry collaboration. The project encountered problems associated with differences in understanding and expectations, discussion of controversial welfare issues, and challenges to personal values among others. Potential solutions were developed and successfully implemented.

The article discusses a study which identified suitable welfare outcome measures for pig-farm assurance schemes in Great Britain. The elements of pig husbandry that can influence pig welfare include environmental enrichment, foraging behavior, thermal comfort, physical comfort, tail docking and floor space provision. One of the schemes in Great Britain is the Animal Needs Index (ANI), which is aimed at providing a means to regulate and promote the welfare of farm animals through providing formal welfare assurance standards.

The article discusses a study which examined the effect of Farm Assurance (FA) assessors' attitude to farm animal welfare on the inter-observer reliability of welfare outcome measures achieved following training. The study is part of a project examining the feasibility and benefits of the incorporation of on-farm welfare outcome assessments into the Pig Farm Assurance Schemes of Great Britain. Body lesions, tail lesions, and lameness are the welfare outcome parameters used in the assessment. The major components of the FA assessor scores are identified.