Animal Welfare
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the OIE convention on animal welfare which encompasses the principle of the 5 freedoms pertaining to animal welfare. These freedoms are:
- Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from pain, injury and disease
- Freedom to express normal behaviour
- Freedom from fear and distress
There is regulation of the industry at both a local and international level to ensure that best practice is applied in terms of animal welfare. Entities such as the Department of Veterinary Field Services (Ministry of Agriculture), the Crocodile Farmers Association of Zimbabwe (CFAZ), and the Convention on the Prevention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) define minimum standards for the treatment of animals during farming activities and in terms of traceability ensuring that skins and meat produced come from farms that are legitimate and have employed ethical and humane production practices.Accordingly, Padenga’s farming operations are focused towards the physical and psychological wellbeing of its livestock, with the production of healthy, stress-free animals being viewed as one of the keys to the Company’s success.
