Welfare

What we do:

All of the animals at Apollo Bay Family Farm are subject individually to regular vet checks and medical treatment in between the official visits, if necessary.
The staff at Apollo Bay Family Farm are experienced animal handlers and all care is taken by them to ensure the wellbeing of the animals and that they are healthy and happy. We love our animals and we hope you will too.
Pens are cleaned daily and all animals have access to fresh food, water and, where needed, milk.
All animals have access to shelter from rain, wind, sun, heat and cold.

What you need to do:

Animals are creatures that have and deserve the same respect as any living creature. Care must be taken to make sure they are not frightened or mishandled. All animals have the capacity to bite or otherwise defend themselves if they need to. Please be aware of this when you handle the animals.
The animals here are friendly and used to being handled. Feel free to go into the animal nursery area to feed or touch the animals (or have your children do so), but please keep the following in mind:
If an animal backs away from you, do not attempt to approach it or pick it up. If you stand or sit quietly, the animals will approach you.
Do not touch the animals around the mouth area. Some are used to chewing or sucking on fingers and often use their teeth in the process.
Do not feed the animals anything other than the food provided.
We take care to ensure that the animals are given a balanced diet. Some foods are dangerous to animals, for example, chocolate can be harmful to dogs and foods with a high sugar or calcium content can be dangerous to rabbits.
Do not yell, scream or run near the animals. If you are calm, they will be too.
ENJOY YOURSELF! This is a place to learn, have fun and spend time with your family. Treasure it.

The following has been taken in its entirety from the RSPCA Australia website:
http://www.rspca.org.au/
ANIMAL WELFARE

"A framework to define animal welfare

In 1964 the book Animal Machines by Ruth Harrison raised awareness about husbandry conditions in commercial farming operations and sparked sufficient public outcry to instigate a government investigation. The subsequent report of the Brambell Committee (1965) is often quoted as the pivotal step forward in recognition of the importance of behaviour in assessing animal welfare (Mench, 1998).
The Brambell Committee introduced the concept of the five freedoms for animals which are a set of principles which provide a logical and comprehensive framework for analysis of welfare within any animal production system.

The Five Freedoms are:

Freedom from hunger and thirst: by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour;

Freedom from discomfort: by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area;

Freedom from pain, injury and disease: by prevention through rapid diagnosis and treatment;

Freedom to express normal behaviours: by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animals own kind; and

Freedom from fear and distress: by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

The Five Freedoms have been promoted by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Council which advises the UK government on all aspects of farm animal welfare, including new legislation (EU doc). They are also used by internationally by many animal welfare organisations, including RSPCA Australia, as the basis for animal welfare codes and policies on the treatment of food animals and other livestock."

Taken in its entirety from the RSPCA Australia website:
http://www.rspca.org.au/resource/article_define.asp