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Farm Animal Health and Welfare Improvements

DEFRA is leading a programme to improve farm animal health and welfare standards across multiple species and practices. The initiative encompasses recent legislation on dog/cat/ferret imports and livestock exports, alongside active consultations on stunning methods for pigs, castration and tail-docking for lambs, and cage bans for laying hens. Current work includes reviewing euthanasia procedures and enforcement mechanisms for animal welfare offences.

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Family: Consultations

2026

8 events

9 Mar 2026 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Lamb Welfare: Consultation on proposed changes to castration and tail docking methods (Lles Ŵyn: Ymgynghoriad ar newidiadau arfaethedig i ddulliau ysbaddu a thocio cynffonnau) — consultation closed

Please respond to this consultation using the Citizen Space consultation hub: Please use the link underneath "give us your views" at the bottom of this page. This will take you to the first page of the consultation. Scroll to the …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

9 Mar 2026 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Cage reform: proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages (Diwygio cewyll: gwaharddiad arfaethedig ar gadw ieir dodwy, cywennod ac ieir bridio mewn cewyll) — consultation closed

In 1999, conventional ‘battery’ cages for laying hens (for keepers with 350 or more birds) were banned throughout the European Union, including in the UK, but with a 12-year transition period to 1 January 2012 before the ban came into …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

9 Mar 2026 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Lamb welfare: proposed changes to castration and tail docking methods — consultation closed

Seeking views on proposed changes to the methods used for lamb castration and tail docking.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

10 Feb 2026 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Scanning microchips prior to euthanasia — consultation closed

In 2020, Defra worked with the Tuk's Law campaign and the veterinary profession to provide more assurance that alternatives have been explored prior to the euthanasia of healthy dogs. In doing so, Defra was responding to the concerns expressed by …

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10 Feb 2026 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Scanning microchips prior to euthanasia — consultation closed

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12 Jan 2026 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Cage reform: proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages (Diwygio cewyll: gwaharddiad arfaethedig ar gadw ieir dodwy, cywennod ac ieir bridio mewn cewyll) — consultation opened

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

12 Jan 2026 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Lamb Welfare: Consultation on proposed changes to castration and tail docking methods (Lles Ŵyn: Ymgynghoriad ar newidiadau arfaethedig i ddulliau ysbaddu a thocio cynffonnau) — consultation opened

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

12 Jan 2026 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Lamb welfare: proposed changes to castration and tail docking methods — consultation opened

Seeking views on proposed changes to the methods used for lamb castration and tail docking.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2025

6 events

17 Oct 2025 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Scanning microchips prior to euthanasia — consultation opened

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30 Jun 2025 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Poultry catching and handling: proposed changes to permitted methods — outcome published

Seeking views on proposed changes to how you’re allowed to catch (lift and carry) laying hens and meat chickens when loading and unloading for transport.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response (33pp)

2 Jun 2025 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Changes to bovine identification, registration and movement in England

Seeking views on government proposals for improving bovine (cattle, bison, buffalo) identification, registration and movement systems in England.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response

2 Jun 2025 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Changes to bovine identification, registration and movement in England — outcome published

Seeking views on government proposals for improving bovine (cattle, bison, buffalo) identification, registration and movement systems in England.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response

2 May 2025 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Poultry catching and handling: proposed changes to permitted methods — consultation closed

Seeking views on proposed changes to how you’re allowed to catch (lift and carry) laying hens and meat chickens when loading and unloading for transport.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response (33pp)

10 Mar 2025 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Poultry catching and handling: proposed changes to permitted methods — consultation opened

Seeking views on proposed changes to how you’re allowed to catch (lift and carry) laying hens and meat chickens when loading and unloading for transport.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response (33pp)

2023

2 events

15 Nov 2023 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Changes to bovine identification, registration and movement in England — consultation closed

Seeking views on government proposals for improving bovine (cattle, bison, buffalo) identification, registration and movement systems in England.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response

21 Sep 2023 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Changes to bovine identification, registration and movement in England — consultation opened

Seeking views on government proposals for improving bovine (cattle, bison, buffalo) identification, registration and movement systems in England.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response

2022

14 events

15 Apr 2022 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Collecting suggestions for items that improve farm animal health and welfare — consultation closed

We are seeking your input on the small grants offered as part of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway! We have recently published an update which sets out each part of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. Through co-design with …

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31 Mar 2022 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Collecting suggestions for items that improve beef cattle health and welfare — consultation closed

As part of our future farming reforms we will be offering a range of capital grants to co-fund farmer investment in items that support improvements to productivity, animal health and welfare, and reduce environmental impacts. More details on these can …

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31 Mar 2022 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Collecting suggestions for items that improve dairy cattle health and welfare — consultation closed

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31 Mar 2022 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Collecting suggestions for items that improve laying hen health and welfare — consultation closed

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

31 Mar 2022 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Collecting suggestions for items that improve meat chicken health and welfare — consultation closed

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

31 Mar 2022 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Collecting suggestions for items that improve pig health and welfare — consultation closed

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

31 Mar 2022 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Collecting suggestions for items that improve sheep health and welfare — consultation closed

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26 Mar 2022 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked