Update ongerief-analyses 2018-2020: vleeskuikens, vleeskalveren, varkens en melkvee

Between 2018 and 2020, Wageningen Livestock Research has performed four ‘discomfort analyses’ for Stichting Wakker Dier, a Dutch animal-oriented NGO. The Broiler (meat chicken) sector, Veal calve sector, Pig sector and Dairy cow sector were analysed respectively. Lists with discomfort issues were made and analysed using a method developed earlier for the government. The overall conclusion is that levels of discomfort show a favourable trend. Key drivers are obligatory husbandry guidelines imposed by law and by market initiatives. This effect was most pronounced for the broiler chickens (especially due to a successful market initiative and a legal incentive to reduce sole blisters). Veal calves experienced less discomfort especially due to higher solid feed allowances and less stringent limitations on the blood haematocrit levels. Pigs profited from the ban on individual housing of gestating sows and a market initiative for fattening pigs. In the dairy sector such abrupt favourable changes were not identified. In all four sectors analysed, issues occurred that showed the maximum score for discomfort (a combination of Severity, Duration and Occurrence).