Irish farmers need to become their own most vocal critics when it comes to animal welfare, next week’s Nuffield Ireland conference will be told by one of its newest scholars.

Dairy farmer Colm O’Leary visited farms in the UK, Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Kenya, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland during his studies. The farms included one that reared up to 80,000 calves.

Farmers are typically reserved about criticising other farmers’ husbandry practices or handling techniques

The Bandon farmer is recommending that Ireland creates a farming culture that prioritises animal welfare.

“The industry’s animal welfare credentials are only as good as the weakest link,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“Farmers are typically reserved about criticising other farmers’ husbandry practices or handling techniques. We need a more frank and open culture to encourage welfare improvements. We should not allow the fear of offending someone to be a barrier to progress.”

O’Leary is also recommending that certification audits such as the Bord Bia SDAS include a welfare education element to emphasise why measures such as early disbudding of calves is better than later disbudding.

The Nuffield scholar said every effort must be made by farmers to use effective medication for routine management tasks like dehorning

He would like to see mandatory reporting of animal welfare issues by people like vets, AI technicians and relief milkers, to ensure that bad practice is highlighted and addressed. Vets, too, should be supported in whistleblowing.

The Nuffield scholar said every effort must be made by farmers to use effective medication for routine management tasks like dehorning and freeze branding that are necessary but cause pain.

He also calls for more focus on handling and transport, including live export of young calves.

The Nuffield Ireland conference will take place on 15 November, in the Castleknock Hotel, Dublin 15.