The Importance of Animal Welfare in Preventing Avian Flu

The current avian flu situation in Spain has prompted the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food to declare a high-risk status and implement measures to contain the virus's spread. While government measures, such as the ban on free-range chicken farming, aim to mitigate the risk of contagion, it's crucial to analyze whether these address the root cause of the problem and how they relate to animal welfare.

The spread of avian flu is inextricably linked to the conditions in which birds are raised. Intensive farming practices, characterized by overcrowding and limited space, create an environment conducive to disease transmission. This is not merely an ethical concern; it also poses real risks to human health. These farms become breeding grounds for the spread of viruses like avian influenza, which has already claimed at least one life in the United States.

The UNEP and ILRI report (2020), "Preventing the Next Pandemic: Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission," highlights the strong correlation between the intensification of livestock farming and the increase in zoonotic diseases. Intensive farming practices, characterized by overcrowding and stress in birds, create an environment conducive to the spread of the virus: the concentration of animals in confined spaces facilitates rapid virus transmission between healthy and sick individuals.

Furthermore, as UNEP and ILRI point out, the proximity of poultry farms to natural habitats increases the risk of contact between domestic and wild birds, facilitating the transmission of the virus from wild birds to poultry. The report's "dilution effect" concept suggests that greater biodiversity and lower animal density could reduce pathogen transmission. Conversely, intensive farms with low biodiversity and high animal density create an environment favorable to the proliferation and spread of disease. Therefore, protecting the environment and ending intensive livestock farming are urgent priorities if we are to avoid another pandemic in the 21st century.

The ban on free-range chicken farming, imposed by the Ministry of Agriculture, while attempting to reduce contact with wild birds, represents a reactive measure that ignores the fundamental aspects of animal welfare, according to expert analyses and scientific evidence.  The UNEP and ILRI report emphasizes the importance of proactive strategies that address the underlying causes of zoonotic outbreaks, rather than short-term solutions that fail to address inadequate farm conditions. This approach focuses solely on restrictions, neglecting the need to improve animal welfare.

In this context, the "End Cages" campaign of the Animal Welfare Observatory aligns with the need for structural changes in poultry farming. Eliminating cages and improving the living conditions of birds could also contribute to a more sustainable food system.

The experience with avian flu in Spain demands a reassessment of prevention strategies. Instead of reactive and partial measures, a focus on animal welfare is needed.