Animal welfare campaigners are hailing a "landmark" new government strategy that promises to transform the lives of millions of farm animals in the UK. The plans, described as the most ambitious in a generation, set out a comprehensive overhaul of laws covering pets, wildlife, and livestock.
Core Reforms: An End to Cages and Cruel Slaughter
At the heart of the strategy, published on Monday 22 December 2025, is a commitment to phase out key confinement systems. Pig farrowing crates, which tightly restrict mother pigs, and colony cages for laying hens are both slated for elimination. Sean Gifford, managing director at the Humane League UK, celebrated the move, stating it addresses a "stain on British farming" and aligns the UK with nations like Germany and Austria.
The reforms also tackle slaughter practices. Plans to rethink the use of carbon dioxide chambers for pigs could spare an estimated 9 million animals annually from what campaigners call an agonising death. Furthermore, the strategy proposes new humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish and aims to promote slower-growing chicken breeds to address welfare issues in over 1.1 billion broiler chickens.
Fur, Puppy Farms, and Wildlife Protections
Ministers have promised renewed steps towards a ban on imports of real animal fur from overseas farms where animals like foxes and mink are kept in small cages. The government will publish findings from a previous call for evidence and convene a working group on the issue.
Beyond farming, the strategy targets unscrupulous dog breeders operating 'puppy farms', with plans for stricter licensing. For wildlife, a proposed ban on snare traps and the introduction of a "close season" for hares aim to prevent prolonged suffering and protect young animals.
Industry Reaction and Future Challenges
While activists have welcomed the proposals, farming representatives express concern. NFU president Tom Bradshaw warned that higher welfare standards could increase costs, potentially driving consumers to cheaper foreign imports produced to lower standards. He emphasised the need for trade deals to prevent undermining UK producers.
Anthony Field of World Farming UK called the strategy a "landmark" step, noting that ending farrowing crates would benefit around 150,000 pigs a year. However, campaigners like Gifford are seeking assurances that consultations will lead to concrete bans, citing previous government pledges that failed to materialise.
Michael Webb from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home expressed hope that the reforms would be a "catalyst for real, lasting change," while acknowledging significant detail remains to be worked out. The success of this ambitious agenda will now depend on its translation into enforceable law.
