The German agriculture department has launched a new initiative to make animal welfare a high priority.

Speaking at the KTBL (Association for Technology and Structures in Agriculture) Days 2015 symposium on the Challenge of Animal Welfare, the Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr Maria Flachsbarth said that many people not just livestock farmers and those involved with farm animals are concerned about welfare issues.

She said it was equally important for consumers, which is why the ministry was launching the initiative “A Question of Attitude – New ways of improving animal welfare”.

The initiative aims to achieve real improvements for animals in a reasonable time frame without losing sight of the economic factors.

“We need to keep an eye of the efficiency and competitiveness of livestock farmers, because it would serve neither the consumer nor the animals if the livestock trade should move to other countries,” Dr Flachsbarth said.  READ MORE