Project “Farm animal welfare standards in Serbia” was focused on creating proper conditions to develop sustainable livestock production in Serbia mainly through the implementation and improvement of farm animal welfare standards. Value of this EU-funded project was 129.728,00€ and it was implemented during 2011-2012.  Project aim was to transfer and apply relevant EU knowledge and tools for assessment of farm animal welfare and the farm animal welfare standards that may be successfully implemented in Serbia.

EU recognizes animal welfare as one of the key aspects of food safety, rural development and sustainable livestock production. It is part of the policies and practices related to the enhancement of (business industrial and) economic development, as well as rural development and employment. Therefore, animal welfare is important part of the ‘Common Agricultural Policy-CAP’ in EU. Farm animal welfare standards, besides strengthening  the local livestock production, food quality and safety, are by their demands (methods) for sustainable livestock production(practices), directly involved in environmental protection and reducing pollution.

Project main activities:

  • Methodology development and knowledge transfer from EU related to assessment of farm animal welfare, through the eight-day training of veterinarian and livestock engineers by experts from the University of Bristol (UK);
  • First comprehensive research of the farm animal welfare in Serbia – assessment of the farm animal welfare on farms!!!- at local and national level through outreach activities (field visits) and the implementation of a specially developed welfare protocols at (on) 350 broilers, pigs, cattle and sheep farms;
  • Development of farm animal welfare standards for breeding purposes on farms that gives special value to animal source food when applying this standards
  • Developing local policies in order to utilize farm animal welfare standards on the territory of a city Sremska Mitrovica

Project “Animal welfare standards in Serbia” was implemented in partnership with the city of Sremska Mitrovica. Associated partners were Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection and British Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals –RSPCA (UK).

Find out more about food safety, sustainable livestock production and animal welfare and ORCA’s activities on www.bezbednosthrane.orca.rs.