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Abstract
Animal ethics and welfare, the model codes of
practice for the welfare of animals and the bureaucracy
which is necessary to make the
codes work, are an indulgence of wealthy, developed
countries.
In many developing countries the main concern
of people is their day-to-day survival with
little concern for long-term ecological implications
or animal welfare issues. Unfortunately
many aid programs have been a waste of
money with many layers of expensive bureaucracy,
and recently organisations have
been forced to reconsider their position on the
livestock industries in developing countries.
Working with the farmers and their indigenous
stock, progress can be made with seemingly
simple strategies. Just the system of feeding
poultry each day and confining them for part
of the day and at night can produce more
eggs and prevent predation. This means more
money, better health for the livestock and the
people. The concept of animal welfare could
be built into this training with the emphasis on
the benefits accruing to the people as well as
to the animals.