The farm animals that exist in many parts of the world today have been designed by humans to be very productive at doing one specific task: dairy cows for milk; beef cattle for meat; laying hens for eggs; broiler chickens for poultry, farmed salmon or trout for fish, and so on. The ones we don’t farm primarily for their meat (such as dairy cows or laying hens) also end up in the food chain as meat for us, or for our pets at the end of their productive lives.

Over time, humans have changed the body shape, size and biology of farm animals to produce more meat, fish, eggs or milk, both more quickly and cheaply. And we’ve adapted farms themselves, often so that the largest number of animals can be reared in the smallest possible spaces. Undoubtedly this has delivered large quantities of animal-based protein for a growing human population, but has often come at the expense of the animals themselves.

Farm animals can experience pain and emotion, just like us. When they live in tight overcrowded spaces — they don’t like it. When they’re unable to move naturally because parts of their body are damaged or too big — this is uncomfortable for them. And, just like us, when they don’t eat a healthy diet, socialise with their chosen companions, have regular exercise and experience mental stimulation — they become unhappy, unhealthy and often reliant on medication.

Not all farms are like this. Some farms are home to happy and healthy animals. They have some choice around what they’d like to eat, when they’d like to rest and where they’d like to wander (within reason), and which animals they’d like to socialise with. They don’t have bits of their bodies (e.g. tails or beaks) removed, they aren’t handled roughly by humans, they aren’t taken away from their mothers when they’re very young, and they don’t suffer at the end of their lives.

As consumers, we also have choices. We can choose to consume less animal protein. And, where possible, we can choose to buy direct from farms that ensure the wellbeing of their animals. In the supermarket, we can choose labels such as RSPCA Assured, or organic, which although they may not address every single concern we may have, are definitely a step in the right direction.