Document type: podcast from the Animal Welfare Chair at VetAgro Sup (12 min 12)
Author: Chaire Bien-être animal
Preview : Today's interview is with Elodie Merlot, a Research Director at INRAE, who works on animal welfare issues in pig farming. She will be discussing the definition of welfare with us, but we'll also be taking a closer look at intensive farming. She will explain why she considers that intensive farming does not allow a sufficient level of animal welfare. We also take a look at the difficulties faced by livestock farmers who must constantly adapt to meet the dual demands of productivity and animal welfare. As a bonus, she tells us what her ideal farm would look like, based on the "One Welfare" principle, taking animal welfare, the environment and the farmer into account. We hope you will enjoy listening.
On the program:
- 0'22 Can you tell us a little about yourself and your research?
- 1'31 What is your understanding of animal welfare and how has your research contributed to improving the welfare of animals?
- 3'13 You were one of the signatories to an opinion piece in INRAE's Sésame magazine entitled "Améliorer le bien-être des animaux d'élevage: est-ce toujours possible?, asking whether it is always possible to improve welfare in livestock farming. In your view, and in the article, you say that animal welfare doesn't seem possible for animals raised under "intensive" conditions. Why is this the case, and what do you mean by intensive farming?
- 6'10 : Do you not think that the research carried out in recent years has led to improvements in animal welfare, even in intensive farming?
- 8'28 :What would be your ideal farm?
