"With Welfair® Animal welfare is improved, but also the productivity, quality and sustainability of the system”
With more than 20 years of experience in the agri-food sector, Mikel Peña, veterinarian and Lead Auditor of Welfair®, has taken a path that has taken him from practicing as a veterinary clinician to qualifying as an auditor specializing in animal welfare. Today, he collaborates internationally, applying animal welfare assessment standards and focusing on animal observation and different livestock management practices. From his technical and cross-disciplinary perspective, he discusses animal welfare assessment, the specificities of Latin America, and the opportunities—as well as the challenges—of applying a model that requires one to pause and observe.
From the veterinary clinic to animal welfare
His first steps in the profession were linked to clinical work in the livestock and small animal sectors. He also worked as a veterinary inspector in slaughterhouses in Catalonia. Later, he completed a master's degree in food safety, dedicating more than ten years to quality and safety in the food industry.
“Finally, in 2019 I began my training in evaluation standards and protocols Welfair®. Today, almost 100% of my work is focused on audits on farms, slaughterhouses, and processing plants,” he explains. This experience has allowed him to assess, firsthand, the important work carried out by companies at all stages of the agri-food chain.
A look from Latin America
During his first years as an auditor, his work focused on Spain and Portugal. But since 2022, his field of work has expanded to Latin America, a continent where, according to Mikel, "the great geographical and cultural richness of its countries is also reflected in the diversity of livestock management systems." This variety, he explains, exists not only between countries but also between the different regions within each one: "From large, high-tech dairies in Mexico to small-scale farmers in Costa Rica and Peru, they all share one thing in common: the commitment of their technicians and producers and a vision of animal welfare as a fundamental pillar for the sustainability and competitiveness of their livestock systems and associated agri-food industries," he clarifies.
Furthermore, he highlights a key difference compared to the European context: "While Spain and Portugal have worked hard on specific certifications, in Latin America they are integrating animal welfare into a very broad and sustainable vision of the entire agri-food chain. It's a global approach that, in my opinion, is very enriching," he agrees.
From theory to practice: assessing the environment and observing the animal
In his audits, Mikel identifies two approaches that, far from being opposed, he considers complementary. The first is the one that analyzes environmental risks. "For example, if the path to a pasture is in poor condition, it can compromise the animal's well-being, causing lameness. Or if temperatures are extreme, as occurs in some regions of Mexico, this also directly affects its well-being," explains the auditor.
The second approach, and the one that Mikel particularly values, is the one based on direct observation of the animal: “The protocol Welfair® is based on that: stopping, observing, and evaluating. Seeing how the animal behaves tells us if the environment and management are really working. It's not just about reviewing documentation; it's about looking at the animal, understanding what's happening, and, consequently, identifying opportunities for improvement that technicians often overlook.
She also emphasizes that one of the greatest lessons learned from her professional experience has been, precisely, sharing these perspectives with other specialists in the sector. Sharing different approaches, observations, and practices has enriched her work and allowed her to approach animal welfare from a more comprehensive and practical perspective.
Barriers and benefits
When implementing the protocol Welfair®, Mikel states that many companies encounter initial barriers, particularly due to lack of knowledge. “They're accustomed to document audits, where written procedures are evaluated. But here, what's being audited is the animal's behavior, and that creates some doubts or resistance at first,” he explains.
However, he asserts that a good technical explanation can transform perceptions. "When the approach is understood and how the indicators are applied is shown, companies value it. That's why it's so important to explain it well, not only to managers, but also to farmers, operators, and plant technicians."
Regarding the benefits, Mikel is emphatic: “Animal welfare is a fundamental pillar that positively impacts farm productivity, but also the quality and safety of slaughterhouses. And that's often forgotten. It's not just the animals who benefit, it's the entire supply chain,” he concludes.
Stories that leave a mark
Throughout his audits, Mikel has witnessed how certifications such as Welfair® can generate a tangible impact on animal welfare and on the productive results of livestock farms. One of the cases he most recalls is that of a company that decided to certify with the seal Welfair® to its dairy farms, made up of small producers with herds of about 30 cows each.
“During internal assessments, it was discovered that water availability was limited on several farms,” he explains. Based on this finding, simple but effective improvements were made: the location was optimized and the number of water troughs increased. The results were quickly apparent. The farmers observed a decrease in agonistic competitive behaviors for access to water, which contributed to improving the animals' overall well-being and group stability.
Furthermore, they reported a significant increase in milk production. "One of the producers even estimated that the improvement generated an additional income of about $20.000 a year," Mikel concludes, reaffirming that animal welfare is not only an ethical issue, but also a strategic decision with concrete benefits for farms.
The importance of staying up to date
Asked about how audits align with scientific advances, Mikel explains that auditors receive ongoing training based on defined protocols and standards and are periodically evaluated to maintain their competency. He also emphasizes the importance of communication between all stakeholders: "We collect a lot of field data that can be useful for improving existing indicators. That's why dialogue between the sector, technicians, and scientific committees is essential," he emphasizes.
Added to this is the need to stay abreast of legislative changes, especially in Latin American countries, where he asserts that animal welfare legislation is constantly evolving. For Mikel, participating in conferences, reading specialized publications, and participating in industry forums not only keeps professionals up to date but also allows them to adapt certification to specific and evolving contexts.
Commitment to the entire chain
With a track record spanning multiple stages of the agri-food system, Mikel Peña believes that animal welfare should not be understood as an isolated requirement, but rather as a collective commitment that involves the entire chain: from livestock farms to transporters, slaughterhouses, processing plants, distributors, and consumers. "When protocols are applied correctly, the results are evident: animal welfare improves, as does productivity, product quality, and the sustainability of the system. This is the direction in which we must continue to move forward."