Farmers need to have better engagement with consumers on animal welfare, according to Dr Laura Boyle who was speaking at the “Our Farms, Our Food, Our Future” forum in Skibbereen last weekend.

Speaking at the event attended by food producers and writers, Dr Boyle urged farmers to have a proactive approach to animal welfare.

She told those gathered: “As a result of a year of difficult weather, questions have been raised about animal welfare. These include concerns on exposure to the elements, overcrowding, lameness and breeding-related issues.”

The animal behaviour scientist, based in Teagasc Moorepark, also highlighted moves in some Scandinavian countries to ban double-muscled cattle on welfare grounds as C-section rates are higher.

Acknowledging further improvements to animal welfare will require behavioural and management practice changes, she added there would be benefits to animal health and the image of the animal agriculture sector. “This is what we face in order to improve animal welfare and with that the image we portray of farming.”

While some changes will be costly, others are more straightforward.

“One of the first steps was to improve bio-security. This would have the immediate benefit to the animal with an increase in immunity because of less stress. If you have better immune systems, animals have better health,” she said.

Also speaking at the Taste of West Cork Food Festival event was Professor Gilles-Eric Seralini, a French molecular biology university professor, whose views on Roundup may be viewed as controversial in some quarters while admired in others.