Business Rural North Spring 2021

10 | Improved animal welfare worth striving for SPCA chief scientific officer Dr Arnja Dale says the updated Certified standards will provide more clarity. Karen Phelps RURAL PEOPLE » SPCA: Dr Arnja Dale I mproving animal welfare for as many animals as possible and providing consumers with more in- formation and choices are the driving factors be- hind the updated and new SPCA Certified standards, says SPCA chief scientific officer Dr Arnja Dale. “We know animal welfare is an important consideration for many consumers and our aim is to improve animal welfare across farming sectors because we believe there is a need for continual improvement to result in meaningful, sustainable and positive animal welfare outcomes,” she says. Although SPCA has had a Blue Tick certification programme since 2001 with standards covering layer hens, meat chickens, and pigs, late last year it was rebranded as SPCA Certified and additional standards were announced to cover a broader sec- tor of the farming industry accreditations including beef cattle, sheep and dairy sheep. A dairy cattle standard will be released next month and a Chinook salmon standard will be re- leased in 2022. In addition to farmed animal welfare standards, SPCA Certified also has also launched its first companion animal standard on dog day cares. Certified members are audited by an independent third party with both announced and unannounced audit through the year. Arnja says that SPCA Certified consults with a broad range of industry, including internationally, in developing the standards. The standards embrace more than just ensuring animals don’t have nega- tive experiences to include creating positive welfare for animals to thrive through using the Five Domains of Animal Welfare model. “Our standards far exceed the Minimum Stand- ards in Codes of Welfare and allow animals to expe- rience positive welfare states. We require animals to have appropriate shade and shelter, pre and post pain relief, cow brushes, manipulable material for pigs, warm comfortable bedding and stable social groups. It’s about ensuring animals have a good life,” explains Arnja. Dairy sheep is one standard that has recently been released and Fernglen Farms is the first farm within the sheep milk sector to become accredited. It also played an integral part in the development of the standards after approaching SPCA some time ago looking for a way to certify its farming methods. Arnja says that Fernglen Farms is very proactive, innovative and positively pushes the boundaries in the animal welfare space.The sheep at Fernglen Farms are able to express their natural behaviour, raise their own lambs and happily come in to be milked once a day “We have a philosophy of handling stock in a manner where they can naturally live healthy, only intervening if necessary to ensure our animals can continue to thrive,” says one of Fernglen Farms’ directors Cameron Ravenwood. “Our stock grazes as they would in their natural environment – outside on pasture. We provide them with great shelter in the form of shade trees and shelterbelts so that when things get too hot or cold there is always a place for them to get out of the elements of nature.” Enabling the animals to enjoy their lives means that lambs are left with mum for a minimum of 35 days and are then weaned very gradually. He says there has been a direct correlation between animal welfare and production with sheep producing more when given great conditions to thrive in. The certification has also helped Fernglen Farms to verify its story with customers. “It’s easy for companies to say they do certain things but this proves our story and the way we farm is true. We’ve definitely had lots of positive feedback from customers so it’s a good way to generate brand loyalty and get them behind the way we are farming. Hopefully it makes people think in general about where their food is coming from. We want to produce milk in a way that we, and New Zealand, can be proud of.” Arnja agrees it is important for consumers to have a better understanding of how their food is farmed so they can make informed choices when purchasing products. SPCA has just employed a business relationship manager, to liaise with retail- ers to increase awareness of SPCA Certified. It has also employed a marketing expert to help raise consumer awareness. Arnja expects both these things will mean positive outcomes for participants in the certification programme with the aim to create a win-win so businesses, animals and people all benefit. “Hopefully it makes people think in general about where their food is coming from” Ready to work Smarter? Lets Talk Like you, we’re local. We understand what makes Wairarapa tick, and a big part of that is our rural businesses. As a member of your rural advisory team, we’ll help you achieve your business goals For a no cos t, no obl iga tion catch up, cal l Al istair McLennan or Mike Flower at 06 377 4139 or emai l admin@amrgroup.co.nz l i i l l l i i i l i l i Formally Moore Markhams Wairarapa Limited Alistair.mclennan@amrgroup.co.nz Mike.flower@amrgroup.co.nz