Enhanced Animal Welfare and Labeling in Cattle, Sheep, and Goats
In 2020, the European Union endorsed its “Farm-to-Fork” strategy, emphasizing the need for transparency in the food production chain and communication of the sustainability level and nutritional value of food products to the consumer through labeling. For animal-based products, this also includes in...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Ruminants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-933X/5/2/19 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849432371132104704 |
|---|---|
| author | Maria Papageorgiou Agori Karageorgou Ouranios Tzamaloukas Panagiotis Simitzis |
| author_facet | Maria Papageorgiou Agori Karageorgou Ouranios Tzamaloukas Panagiotis Simitzis |
| author_sort | Maria Papageorgiou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2020, the European Union endorsed its “Farm-to-Fork” strategy, emphasizing the need for transparency in the food production chain and communication of the sustainability level and nutritional value of food products to the consumer through labeling. For animal-based products, this also includes information about the husbandry systems under which the animals are raised. At the same time, people are becoming increasingly concerned both as citizens and as consumers about animal welfare issues in production species, as animal welfare is considered an integral part of sustainability and food security. This has led to the development of various enhanced animal welfare labeling schemes, initiated by public or private entities, or even as a partnership of both. Specifically for cattle, sheep, and goats, various standards have been developed and implemented in Europe, all establishing higher welfare standards compared to conventional farming, and in some cases exceeding the minimum requirements for organic farming as set by Regulation (EU) 2018/848. Most of these standards, especially those developed by NGOs advocating for animal welfare or through public initiative, were developed for semi-intensive to extensive systems. They primarily incorporate animal-based measures, including positive welfare indicators, offering a holistic approach to animal welfare evaluation. Although there is significant heterogeneity in European animal welfare standards, nearly all of them promote access to pasture, comfort, environmental enrichment, and, in some cases, even mother–young bonding. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c8a2801b3e114e6083ef25034b079e1f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-933X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ruminants |
| spelling | doaj-art-c8a2801b3e114e6083ef25034b079e1f2025-08-20T03:27:22ZengMDPI AGRuminants2673-933X2025-05-01521910.3390/ruminants5020019Enhanced Animal Welfare and Labeling in Cattle, Sheep, and GoatsMaria Papageorgiou0Agori Karageorgou1Ouranios Tzamaloukas2Panagiotis Simitzis3Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol P.O. Box 50329, CyprusLaboratory of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, GreeceIn 2020, the European Union endorsed its “Farm-to-Fork” strategy, emphasizing the need for transparency in the food production chain and communication of the sustainability level and nutritional value of food products to the consumer through labeling. For animal-based products, this also includes information about the husbandry systems under which the animals are raised. At the same time, people are becoming increasingly concerned both as citizens and as consumers about animal welfare issues in production species, as animal welfare is considered an integral part of sustainability and food security. This has led to the development of various enhanced animal welfare labeling schemes, initiated by public or private entities, or even as a partnership of both. Specifically for cattle, sheep, and goats, various standards have been developed and implemented in Europe, all establishing higher welfare standards compared to conventional farming, and in some cases exceeding the minimum requirements for organic farming as set by Regulation (EU) 2018/848. Most of these standards, especially those developed by NGOs advocating for animal welfare or through public initiative, were developed for semi-intensive to extensive systems. They primarily incorporate animal-based measures, including positive welfare indicators, offering a holistic approach to animal welfare evaluation. Although there is significant heterogeneity in European animal welfare standards, nearly all of them promote access to pasture, comfort, environmental enrichment, and, in some cases, even mother–young bonding.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-933X/5/2/19labelinganimal welfareanimal welfare standardcattlemeatdairy |
| spellingShingle | Maria Papageorgiou Agori Karageorgou Ouranios Tzamaloukas Panagiotis Simitzis Enhanced Animal Welfare and Labeling in Cattle, Sheep, and Goats Ruminants labeling animal welfare animal welfare standard cattle meat dairy |
| title | Enhanced Animal Welfare and Labeling in Cattle, Sheep, and Goats |
| title_full | Enhanced Animal Welfare and Labeling in Cattle, Sheep, and Goats |
| title_fullStr | Enhanced Animal Welfare and Labeling in Cattle, Sheep, and Goats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhanced Animal Welfare and Labeling in Cattle, Sheep, and Goats |
| title_short | Enhanced Animal Welfare and Labeling in Cattle, Sheep, and Goats |
| title_sort | enhanced animal welfare and labeling in cattle sheep and goats |
| topic | labeling animal welfare animal welfare standard cattle meat dairy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-933X/5/2/19 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariapapageorgiou enhancedanimalwelfareandlabelingincattlesheepandgoats AT agorikarageorgou enhancedanimalwelfareandlabelingincattlesheepandgoats AT ouraniostzamaloukas enhancedanimalwelfareandlabelingincattlesheepandgoats AT panagiotissimitzis enhancedanimalwelfareandlabelingincattlesheepandgoats |