Abstract

ROMERO, Marlyn H  and  SANCHEZ, Jorge A. Implications of including animal welfare in Colombian sanitary legislation. Rev Colom Cienc Pecua [online]. 2011, vol.24, n.1, pp. 83-91. ISSN 0120-0690.

Animal welfare (BA) has been recently included into the Colombian health legislation, following the guidelines of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Implementing BA concepts in the beef chain requires considering ethical issues and regulatory policies. Animal welfare has implications in meat quality and trade. Ignoring BA concepts leads to economic losses related to death of animals, higher weight losses and lower carcass yield. Furthermore, contusions and seizures decrease the commercial value of beef, among others. This paper reviews several BA concepts that were included into Colombian laws, the implication of its adoption, and the requirements for their implementation.

Keywords : animal welfare; health law; freedom.