Livestock health and welfare strategy 2025 to 2030

Ministerial foreword

I am delighted to introduce this new health and welfare strategy for Scottish livestock and the accompanying summary of work carried out under the previous strategy. Having a strategic approach to health and welfare in the Scottish livestock sector is important as it helps us to maintain the perspective of what has gone before and highlights our longer term ambitions.

The recent work in the Scottish Parliament on the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 demonstrates that Scotland expects animal health and welfare to be at the forefront of our objectives in future agricultural systems for years to come and the Vision for Scottish Agriculture carries this forwards.

The review of the previous strategy that accompanies this new strategy demonstrates that there is plenty more work to do. Unexpected events, changing circumstances and new threats demand new legislation, amended plans, changes to controls and extensive communication. In addition, new tools and technologies are emerging that provide opportunities to better deal with these challenges and deliver novel solutions.

It is notable that in this area of work in Scotland there is a long tradition of policy co-design, good communication with all parts of the livestock industry and very effective working with other UK Government departments, agencies and with delivery partners. This is combined with strong industry leadership, particularly in times of crisis. In this regard we are fortunate and all of us involved in government and the livestock sectors benefit from it. The outcomes we continue to achieve show that this approach, based on shared responsibility, is effective. Long may it continue.

Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity