6.4 LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT ANIMAL WELFARE or animal well-being refers to the physical and mental health of animals in relation to their environment. Nowadays, sensitivity to the suffering of animals has become associated with the processes of modernisation, especially moral progress, and humanism. However, each year, the welfare of millions of animals farmed for food production is often seriously compromised. Animal welfare ONLINE RESOURCES Animal welfare dilemmas Livestock transport Factors impacting on animal welfare Animal welfare depends largely on how animals are managed by humans as regards: housing and bedding, transport conditions, procedures, stunning castration of males, tail docking, slaughter methods. This last issue is particularly critical, as it involves a difficult balance of religious freedom and legalised practices. In general, the slaughter of any animal for food production must be carried out in a humane manner and without any suffering to the animal; in Italy, animals are slaughtered according to the Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 together with the Legislative Decree n. 131/2013 and n. 333/1998. Repercussions on the food chain When an animal is placed in an unsuitable environment, its body must act to compensate, which can result in losses in growth, production, and reproduction. In addition, the safety of the food chain is indirectly compromised due to the close links between animal welfare, animal health and diseases. Stress factors and poor welfare can lead to increased susceptibility to transmissible diseases among animals, thus posing risks to consumers. food-borne 1 MORE For example, through common food-borne infections such as and . 1 Salmonella, Campylobacter E.coli EU policy For several years now, the European Union has been taking steps towards more sustainable agriculture: as part of this transition, the European Commission has also committed to revising the EU Animal Welfare legislation in order to align the current EU legislation with the latest scientific evidence (which proves that animals are sentient beings with natural vital needs) and to ensure a higher level of animal welfare in the EU.