Introducing the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway: role of the farm vet

Abstract

Background: The sustainable farming incentive (SFI), which is one of the schemes introduced in the Agricultural Transition Plan, aims to address specific environmental issues alongside food production. Part of this will involve making improvements to farming via the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to drive better standards and efficiency. Vets will be heavily involved in delivering this pathway, particularly through undertaking annual health and welfare reviews on farm.Aim of the article: This article details to practitioners how the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway was developed and what it aims to achieve both in year one and its longer‐term ambitions. It also outlines how vets will play a vital role in the delivery of the pathway, and the benefits that this will bring for the profession, farming industry and wider society.