From laws that recognize animals as beings that feel even more human productive practices, Colombia advances in animal welfare. However, the challenge is to bring these rules to practice in all regions and that farmers understand that taking care of their animals is also a good business.
Colombia advances in regulation for animal welfare in livestockbut the challenges persist in their real and profitable implementation in the field.
Colombian livestock faces a new experience, produce without neglecting well -being of animals. A challenge that, according to experts, is not only ethical, but key to improving productivity, responding to social pressure and guaranteeing the sustainability of the sector.
In the last decade, Colombia has made significant advances in regulation and public policies aimed at improving treatment for production animals. The Law 1774 of 2016 marked a before and after to declare that “Animals are sensible beings, not things”, Which opened the door to new regulations such as Decree 2113 of 2017 and several technical resolutions of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA).
To Viviana Sofía Zamora PinedaTechnical Director of Safety and veterinary supplies of the ICA, this process has been multidimensional. The academic said that the management of animal welfare in the Colombian livestock sector has several fronts of action: governance, union, academic-investigation, professional and application. The advances are dynamic and depend on the level of interconnectivity between these fronts. (Read in Livestock context: Ica launched a new certification in animal welfare. Do you know what it is?)
And it is precisely in that connection where the country has begun to take firm steps. Thanks to the cooperation between official entities, guilds, universities and professionals in the sector, the ICA has developed technical methodologies to evaluate the fulfillment of the RAnimal Welfare Equerimosa key element to transform the theory into practice.
Moral duty
At present, consumers are increasingly informed and demanding, so animal welfare is no longer just a demand for activists. Has become a Quality and sustainability standard.
This has been understood by several Colombian livestock unions, which have incorporated this component into their strategic plans, looking for competitive advantages.
According to Zamora Pineda, “union efforts are not only focusing on production properties, but also throughout the chain, seeking to improve the processes involved in the transportthe Marketing and the sacrificeto ensure the welfare of animals and obtain harmless products and optimal quality ”.
For many farmers it is clear that well -fed animals, without stress, with adequate health management and possibility of expressing natural behaviors They have better performance, less diseases and generate better products.
Animal well -being in Colombian livestock not only improves the life of livestock, it also promotes productivity and opens doors to more demanding markets. Photo: Fedegán-Fng
Producer role
However, this transformation will not be possible without active participation of producers. From small peasants to large agricultural entrepreneurs, everyone has a fundamental role.
Many have already begun to adopt good practices in animal welfare, especially in regions where there is greater access to technical training and professional advice. But There are still important gaps.
“He limited access to information Agricultural professionals in several regions make producers know the demands that must be met in terms of animal welfare and begin to give a substantial change in the way of producing, seeking to have sustainable, responsible productions and that respect the well -being of production animals, giving them a good quality of life until their sacrifice, ”said Zamora Pineda.
The ICA expert calls for rethink the role of the producer as well -being agents.
“Ensure good nut practices that minimize pain of animals, providing an environment that promotes the expression of motivated and rewarding behaviors and tends to a positive human relationship, ”he said.
It is not prohibit but improve
A key point that still generates confusion in the sector is the difference between animal welfare y Animalist protectionism. The first is a scientific and technical approach that seeks to improve the quality of life of animals under human care. The second, on the other hand, advocates to completely eliminate the use of production animals.
It must be clear that this difference is not less. While animal welfare seeks to optimize already demanding systems, radical protectionism is perceived as a threat to livestock. (Read in Livestock context: BPG or animal welfare: How do the two certifications differ?)
According to Zamora Pineda, “animal welfare is a concept based on science that seeks to improve the quality of life of animals that are under human care, in order to achieve well -being for all, animals, humans and the environment. It is thus, that animal welfare Does not seek to prohibit animal productionseeks to improve it. ”
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