Animal welfare is increasingly recognised as a key driver of farm economic performance, a trend confirmed by reports from the European Commission and EFSA. In 2024, the European Commission updated standards on minimum space, ventilation, bedding quality and heat-stress mitigation, with direct applicability across commercial farms.

According to EFSA – Animal Welfare Overview 2024, high temperatures significantly affect feed intake and productivity in cattle and pigs, while farms equipped with efficient ventilation and cooling systems experience far smaller performance losses during heatwaves. Welfare measures have a direct impact on reproductive performance, milk quality and juvenile mortality.

In Romania, ANSVSA monitors the implementation of EU regulations, and the agency’s reports show that units complying with welfare criteria face a much lower risk of non-compliances during inspections. Under the National Strategic Plan (PNS) 2023–2027, welfare measures are integrated into both investment support schemes and eco-schemes, particularly for the cattle and poultry sectors.

Animal welfare is no longer perceived solely as a regulatory obligation. It is a direct indicator of productivity and a decisive factor influencing farm competitiveness in an increasingly demanding European market.

(Photo: Freepik)