New Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner discusses with veterinarians for the first time

The newly appointed Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner since last summer, veterinarian Dr. Ariane Kari, recently discussed her ideas on animal welfare, animal protection and animal health in modern livestock farming with veterinarians at the 2024 Cattle Conference of the Agricultural and Veterinary Academy (AVA) in Herrieden for the first time after her appointment by Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir as Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner.
In his welcoming address, AVA founder and director, agronomist and veterinary specialist Ernst-Günther Hellwig saw the need for "us farm vets to get to know the new Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner, because our common goal is to ensure that the animals on the farms are doing well and that animal protection and welfare are safeguarded".

In her guest lecture to the cattle veterinarians, Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner Dr. Kari emphasized that she wants to give all animals a voice at federal level and wants to be heard as the "voice of the animals" in legislative procedures, for example. With her role in animal protection, she wants to strengthen a central concern of the federal government. It primarily represents animals and does not speak on behalf of the federal government. Her decisions and assessments on animal welfare and animal welfare-related issues are free from any political influence or political guidelines. "I decide how and what I work on," says Dr. Kari.
She advises and supports all federal ministries equally, not just the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, as is often mistakenly said. She provides technical recommendations and opinions/expert opinions and will actively participate in the further development of animal welfare at national and international level.
It wants to take a critical look at draft legislation and proposals from the Federal Government. She will also introduce many of her own ideas and formulations into animal welfare debates early enough in order to exert an appropriate influence as an expert, which is far removed from ideologies but must be factually based on reality.
She also sees the task of her educational and public relations work as conveying more knowledge about animals and their needs.

Before the AVA event, there were some skeptics who saw the role of an animal welfare officer as a "double occupation" in the BMEL, as "animal health and animal welfare" were already established in sub-division 32.

The almost 100 veterinarians in attendance were visibly impressed by how clearly the Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner presented her views and goals and mastered the subsequent lively discussion with the livestock veterinarians with flying colors. "All of us, as professional protectors of animals, must position ourselves clearly as experts," said Dr. Kari.
We veterinarians are delighted that the Agricultural and Veterinary Academy (AVA) was able to bring the new Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner to Herrieden for an exchange of views and discussion at the AVA Cattle Conference, said the AVA Chairman. "Now we know who the person holding the office of Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner is". Dr. Kari called on the veterinarians present to stay in contact with her, ultimately for the good of the animals.
Only a joint course of action by the veterinary profession and the Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner can ultimately be of benefit and advantage to animal welfare and the welfare of farm animals and enable all those involved to act with certainty for the future.
The AVA Cattle Conference was a successful opportunity for veterinarians to engage in a professional exchange with the Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner. "Let's stay in touch," said Ariane Kari at the end of the discussion and left the AVA event to great applause.
The rest of the conference program for cattle veterinarians brought many new aspects and updates that revolved around the veterinary care of dairy herds during the two-day AVA conference.
The motto of every modern cattle veterinarian is: the veterinarian looking after the herd has the task of ensuring that the animals do not fall ill. So-called preventive veterinary medicine saves on medicines and antibiotics. This helps the animal, the farmer and ultimately the consumer, who buys healthy food from healthy animals.

Detailed information on the cattle conference in Herrieden can be found here.

Keywords:
Agricultural and Veterinary Academy (AVA), Federal Animal Welfare Officer, Kari, animal health, veterinary medicine, farm animal medicine, AVA Cattle Conference, Ernst-Günther Hellwig, animal welfare, animal welfare,

Agrar- und Veterinär- Akademie (AVA)
Birkenweg 7 7
48565 Steinfurt
Germany

http://www.ava1.de

Agrar- und Veterinär- Akademie (AVA)
Herr Ernst-G. Hellwig
025517878

info@ava1.de

The AVA is a training association with the aim of providing training and further education and distributing information for the agricultural and veterinary sectors. At the same time, the AVA is a forum for farmers and veterinarians that focuses on the challenges of producing healthy food in the coming decades.
The aim of the Agricultural and Veterinary Academy is to discuss the problems of modern, sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry. Together we want to find ways to work in an animal-friendly, practical and consumer-oriented manner. AVA training courses help save on medicines! Ernst-Günther Hellwig, founder and director of the AVA, Steinfurt, Burgsteinfurt
Ernst-Günther Hellwig
Birkenweg 7
D 48565 Steinfurt-Burgsteinfurt
phone: +49-(0)2551- 7878 fax: +49-(0)2551-83 43 00
info@ava1.de www.ava1.de

This release was published on openPR.