Europe: Better housing is needed for dairy cows, ducks, geese and quails

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued its scientific opinion on what needs to be done to improve the welfare of dairy cows, ducks, geese and quails. This opinion comes within the scope of the revision of European legislation on animal welfare. As explained in a statement, one of the main areas for improvement is the accommodation of animals. In the case of dairy cows, scientific evidence has shown that permanently tying cows in stables is detrimental to welfare, and this practice needs to be avoided. In the opinion of the EFSA, each animal must have access to a total indoor space – including an area to lie down – of at least nine square metres. Other recommendations for dairy cows include: In the case of ducks, geese and quails, it is recommended to avoid using cages. Furthermore, this type of housing should be avoided during the period of overfeeding for the production of foie gras, as it has a significant impact on the welfare ...