What is animal welfare?
The impact of our meat consumption varies greatly depending on the conditions in which the animals are raised. There is indeed a form of responsible meat, and it certainly involves sourcing locally, from breeders and slaughterhouses that practice their craft with respect for the environment and the animals.
Animal welfare is one of Meaty's fundamental principles. We know all our breeders, because Meaty selects them on the basis of their breeding philosophies. The same goes for our slaughterhouses, who are key partners in animal welfare. The slaughterhouses we work with handle one animal at a time, and are located just a few kilometers from the farms. This ensures a very low level of stress, enabling the animal to be slaughtered with dignity and guaranteeing the quality of its meat.
From breeder to consumer, animal welfare is a key concern in our approach. In this article, we explore what animal welfare really means, Swiss standards and labels, and our vision for helping to improve the well-being of these all-important creatures.
Defining animal welfare
TheWorld Organization for Animal Health (O IE) defines animal welfare as the general state of an animal in its environment. It is not limited to the absence of suffering, but also encompasses their physical and mental well-being.
WHOA adopts as its guiding principles the "Five Fundamental Freedoms". Enunciated in 1965, these five freedoms describe society's expectations regarding the living conditions of animals when they are under human care.
The 5 fundamental freedoms of animals
Freedom from hunger and thirst: Animals must have access to food and water of adequate quantity and quality to stay healthy. For example, a well-fed dairy cow will have better milk production and better overall health.
Freedom from discomfort: Animals need a suitable environment that protects them from the natural elements and stressful environmental conditions. For example, free-range hens have the opportunity to take shelter in rainy or windy weather.
Freedom from pain, injury and disease: Animals must be protected from unnecessary suffering and must have access to veterinary care when needed. For example, providing appropriate medical care in the event of illness to avoid unnecessary suffering.
Freedom to express normal behaviors : Animals must be allowed to express natural behaviors specific to their species. This implies, for example, sufficient living space.
Freedom from fear and distress: Animals must not be subjected to conditions that make them anxious or frightened. For example, sheep reared in a region where wolves are known to be present must be returned to shelter at night.
Animal husbandry and welfare
Breeders are the first people to come into contact with animals, and therefore the first people involved in their well-being. But it's rare as consumers, especially when you live in the city, to know where the animal you're buying was raised and under what conditions.
The aim of food labels is to provide clarity for consumers wishing to make responsible choices. There are a number of such labels in Switzerland, and on the WWF website you can find an evaluation of these labels, with animal welfare as one of the criteria.
Our experience at Meaty shows that a large number of consumers find it difficult to trust labels, and this is something we fully understand: there are a lot of them, and comparing them is not easy. These committed customers are looking for the most direct sourcing possible from the farmer, in order to obtain a guarantee of humane animal husbandry practices, rather than referring to pre-established standards.
How can we improve animal welfare?
Improving animal welfare is a shared responsibility. Each breeder implements his or her own practices according to his or her ability and determination.
As consumers, we can choose to support breeders and companies that respect high animal welfare standards. Here are a few steps we can all put into practice:
Supportresponsiblefarming practices : Opt for meat products from local farmers and producers who adopt ethical and sustainable farming practices.
Promote and encourage transparency: Ask the butcher or even the farmer for information on where the meat comes from and how the animals were raised.
Chez Meaty
We are committed to ensuring animal welfare at every stage of our meat production, from breeding to slaughter. We are convinced that well-treated animals provide better quality meat, while respecting the values of animal life.
Here are a few concrete examples of how we've gone about it:
We aim to sell only local meat from farmers we know, which in Geneva also includes the free zone. If not available, butcher's meat will be Swiss. Only certain Christmas and hunting products come from the European Union.
The journey time from farm to slaughterhouse is approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds.
We know each of our breeders and their breeding practices personally.
By investing in animal welfare practices, we believe we can not only offer our customers exceptional meat, but also contribute to a world where animals are treated with compassion and respect.
Of course, the impact of meat is not limited to animal welfare. Read our article Faut-il culpabiliser de manger de la viande? to learn more about the environmental and health aspects. You may also be interested in our article on How to preserve meat to get the best out of it.
Join us in this quest for animal welfare and discover the difference it can make to your plate and to our planet.
