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Policy paper

Animal Health and Welfare Pathway

The Pathway will push forward and support the gradual and continual improvement in farm animal health and welfare.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published:
22 February 2022
Last updated:
10 September 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added information about Farmer Collaboration Fund, including link to applicant's guide.

  2. Added a section on how poultry keepers can apply for funding for a vet to carry out a biosecurity review at their site.

  3. Updated information relating to Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) grants, stockmanship and Defra's consultation on fairer food labelling.

  4. Section updated - Animal health and welfare capital grants (launched in March 2023). It shows that you can now apply for a small grant, as part of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.

  5. Section 2 updated. The opportunity to apply for small grants, as part of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund will open on 29 May and run for six weeks.

  6. Updates for January 2025 show what funding is available for dairy cattle.

  7. Updated '3. Disease eradication and control programmes launched in May June 2024' section, to show this new support is not currently available for dairy cattle but will be available soon.

  8. June updates added to sections: 1. The Animal Health and Welfare Review 2.Animal health and welfare capital grants 3.Disease eradication and control programmes

  9. May updates added, including information about The Laying Hen Housing For Health And Welfare grant.

  10. Update to Animal Health and Welfare Pathway covering how the delivery of the Pathway is progressing. It has also been restructured to reduce repetition in the content.

  11. Update to reflect the closing of the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare grant on 30 November. Applications are now being assessed.

  12. Updated details about eligibility for the Animal Health and Welfare Review and future plans for the Review. Calf Housing for Health and Welfare launched 7 September.

  13. Update to Animal Health and Welfare Pathway policy including what's new and what's next, requested by SME.

  14. Added a link to summary of responses to the call for evidence on labelling for animal welfare, under heading 2. Stimulating market demand for higher welfare products/What’s new? (update February 2022).

  15. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Animal Health and Welfare Pathway

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Details

The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (the Pathway) was launched in 2023.

The Pathway supports continual improvement in farm animal health and welfare. It is a partnership with farmers, vets, the wider industry and the supply chain.

The Pathway is a critical part of the farming reforms set out in the Agricultural Transition Plan, delivering benefits for animal health and welfare, farm productivity, food security, public health, UK trade and the environment.

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