RSPCA Trustees' Report and Accounts 2014

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2014 11

TRUSTEES' REPORT

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salmon

Turkeys

Ducks

Dairy cattle

Sheep

Pigs

Beef cattle

Laying hens

chickens

20142013201220112010200920082007200620052004

Summary of progress

The Freedom Food assurance scheme improves

the lives of many millions of food animals

every year. The RSPCA sets standards for nine

different farmed species and in 2014 we saw

a significant increase in both the number of

animals reared under the scheme and their

percentage of the British herd or flock in four

of those species - laying hens, turkeys, pigs

and farmed salmon. Indeed the majority of

Scottish farmed salmon is now reared to RSPCA

standards (Figure 3).

What we will do in 2015

Raising welfare standards and increasing the

number of animals protected by them remain

challenging objectives at a time of economic

uncertainty. We will continue to work

towards increasing the number of animals

raised under the RSPCA standards. We will

introduce new welfare standards on farmed

trout to increase the penetration of RSPCA

standards into the farmed fish sector.

We are saddened that the two duck

producers in the UK decided not to improve

their standards to allow farmed ducks

full body access to water. During 2015 we

will renew our resolve to draw the British

public's attention to the inadequate welfare

conditions that ducks endure in the UK.

Farm animals reared under RSPCA standards

We will rebrand Freedom Food in 2015 emphasising its connection to

the RSPCA and roll out a marketing plan to increase the number of

retailer and processor outlets taking Freedom Food products.

Raising the standard of care from birth, though life and into death

for many millions of food animals remains a high priority for the

RSPCA in 2015.

Figure 3 Number of animals reared under RSPCA standards

in nine sectors as a percentage of total UK herd/flock 2004-14

Salmon