HEALTH AND WELFARE PLAN

Dumble Farm is dedicated to continually improving animal welfare. The basis of the welfare assessment within the system is known as the ‘Five Freedoms’.
FREEDOM TO EXPRESS NATURAL BEHAVIOUR
All animals have ample space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind. Farm staff will remain skilled, knowledgeable and conscientious with regards to animal behaviour and their environment.
FREEDOM FROM INJURY AND DISEASE
All animals to be treated with respect and dignity throughout their lives and provided with a humane death. Animals are inspected daily, and all farm staff are very experienced in animal husbandry. All new staff or volunteers will be trained to recognise any signs of ill health and report it immediately. Any signs of illness or disease will be treated immediately and appropriately by experienced and qualified staff or by the vet if necessary. All medicine, treatments and illnesses are documented in the farm medicine record (separate for cattle and alpacas). All animals are regularly wormed and provided with appropriate minerals. The alpaca faeces are cleaned up daily to reduce the risk of worms. Cattle are foot trimmed in a specialist crush by an experienced member of staff. The cattle are TB tested every 4 years and monitored for major diseases (reports stored in office). Alpacas have their fleece removed annually. A herd health plan is discussed with and signed by the vet is accordance with Red Tractor Farm Assurance specifications (kept in file). If an animal is thought to have an infectious disease it is isolated in accordance with the isolation plan.
FREEDOM FROM DISCOMFORT
Animals to be provided with an appropriate environment including shelter and a resting area.
Alpacas have constant access to both grass field and indoor area. The inside space can be used for shelter from rain or sun, it has thick matting, straw bedding, hay rack and water trough. It provides space to feed, lie and feed without competition.
Alpaca Cleaning regime -Fresh straw is spread daily and the pen is cleaned out monthly. Faeces from both the outside and inside area are collected daily. Water tanks inspected daily.
Cattle during the summer have large fields in which to lie, graze and exercise. Trees and hedgerows provide shelter from rain and shade from sun. During winter when the cattle are housed they have ample area to feed, lie and exercise without competition.
Cattle Cleaning Regime – Cattle pens are bedded two or three times a week as necessary with clean, fresh straw, feeding area is scraped daily. Pens are completely mucked out every 2-3 months as necessary. During the summer months when pens are unoccupied they are cleaned out fully.
Goats have a secure outdoor area, with a constant supply of food and water and access to a bedded dry hut all year round.
FREEDOM FROM THIRST AND HUNGER
All animals have access to fresh water via tanks in every field or pen if housed. All water tanks are checked daily to ensure they are clean and functioning correctly. If there is a problem with a tank that animals need access to, the issue is dealt with immediately.
Animal Feeding Regime – All animals have continuous access to either fresh grass, hay or silage. In winter months, the Alpacas are fed 220g per day per animal with a recognised alpaca feed in a dedicated trough. The young beef are fed 1kg per animal during grazing season and 2kg per animal at a feed fence when housed. Feed analysis is kept in the office. Feed plans are written in conjunction with the For Farmers nutritionist.
All animals are body scored regularly and monitored daily to ensure they are receiving the correct level of food for their age/pregnancy status/activity level. If there are any signs of them becoming either over or underweight the feed is adjusted accordingly.
FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND DISTRESS
All animals will be free from conditions that lead to mental suffering. The utmost care will be taken when handling and transporting.
Transportation procedure – no animal is transported during their life on the farm. Transportation only takes place to move animals onto or off the holding when bought or sold. The trailer used for transportation is inspected as part of Red Tractor Farm Assurance and the transport emergency plan is filed in the office. Animals for moving are grouped beforehand to ensure they are familiar with each other. Loading takes place from a secure pen with gated race areas to ensure minimum stress. Animals are only transported if fit to travel, no sick or lame animal is moved.
Death – any animal that is seriously ill or injured will be promptly euthanised by the vet or qualified fallen stockman (John Lord or Websters) to ensure no further suffering. Any animal that has died on the premises is covered in left in a specified place until it can be collected.
Security – the entrance to the farm is gated and locked with a combination padlock (code only known by farm managers). The perimeter of the farm is securely fenced with closed gates at intervals, so in the event of an animal escaping from its enclosure it is very unlikely it can get past the farm boundary. This ensures a much-reduced danger or stress to an animal that has been separated from its group. All animals are checked daily to ensure they are in their correct place. A farm manager is on site every day and overnight.
Escape – if an animal has escaped from its enclosure, it is first ensured the boundary is secure then the animal is returned to its group. If the animal escapes into neighbouring field or into the village it is retrieved immediately to reduce any stress on the animal.