The Legal and Ethical Foundation

In recent years, Colombia has made significant strides in establishing a legal framework that recognizes animals as sentient beings. Key legislation includes:

• Law 1774 of 2016: This landmark law declared that animals are sensible beings, not things, paving the way for enhanced animal protection measures.
• Decree 2113 of 2017: Further solidified the legal obligations concerning animal welfare.
• Technical Resolutions: The Ministry of Agriculture and the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) have issued several technical resolutions to guide the implementation of animal welfare standards.

ICA’s Multifaceted Approach

The ICA is at the forefront of implementing these regulations, adopting a complete approach that involves governance, industry collaboration, academic research, and professional request.

According to Viviana Sofía Zamora Pineda, Technical Director of Safety and veterinary supplies of the ICA, the management of animal welfare in the Colombian livestock sector has several fronts of action: governance, union, academic-investigation, professional and application. The advances are dynamic and depend on the level of interconnectivity between these fronts.

This collaborative effort has led to the development of technical methodologies for evaluating compliance with animal welfare requirements, bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Consumer Demand and Market Access

Animal welfare is no longer solely a concern for activists; it has become a critical factor influencing consumer choices and market access.

Several Colombian livestock associations have integrated animal welfare into their strategic plans to gain a competitive edge. These efforts extend beyond production properties to encompass the entire supply chain, including transportation, marketing, and slaughter processes.

The Producer’s Pivotal Role

The active participation of producers,from small farmers to large agricultural enterprises,is essential for the successful implementation of animal welfare practices.

While some regions have made significant progress, challenges remain, especially in areas with limited access to technical training and professional advice.

Zamora Pineda notes, limited access to facts agricultural professionals in several regions make producers know the demands that must be met in terms of animal welfare and begin to give a substantial change in the way of producing, seeking to have lasting, responsible productions and that respect the well -being of production animals, giving them a good quality of life until their sacrifice.

Producers are encouraged to prioritize practices that minimize pain, promote natural behaviors, and foster positive human-animal interactions.

Animal Welfare vs. animal Rights

It is crucial to distinguish between animal welfare and animal rights. Animal welfare focuses on improving the quality of life for animals under human care, while animal rights advocates for the complete elimination of animal use in production.

zamora Pineda clarifies, animal welfare is a concept based on science that seeks to improve the quality of life of animals that are under human care, in order to achieve well -being for all, animals, humans and the environment. It is thus,that animal welfare does not seek to prohibit animal production seeks to improve it.