Highland Cow Cottage Animal Welfare Statement
Last Update: June 2026
Our Commitment
At Highland Cow Cottage, the health, welfare and wellbeing of our animals is at the heart of everything we do.
As a family-run farm, we are committed to providing the highest standards of care for all animals in our care, including our Highland cattle, Valais Blacknose sheep, goats, alpacas, pigs, poultry and other livestock. Every decision we make is guided by what is in the best interests of our animals.
Our commitment is simple:
Animal welfare comes first, always.
No photograph, visitor experience, booking, event, social media content or commercial activity will ever take priority over the health, safety, welfare and dignity of our animals.
Our Welfare Principles
Our approach to animal welfare is guided by the internationally recognised Five Freedoms:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from pain, injury and disease
- Freedom to express normal behaviours
- Freedom from fear and distress
These principles form the foundation of our animal management practices and guide all decisions relating to the care and welfare of our animals.
Daily Monitoring and Care
All animals are visually inspected every day by experienced members of our team.
We continually monitor the behaviour, condition, appetite, mobility and general wellbeing of all livestock in our care. Any concerns are investigated promptly and, where appropriate, veterinary advice is sought without delay.
Animals are provided with:
- Access to fresh, clean drinking water
- Appropriate nutrition suitable for their species, age and condition
- Suitable shelter and protection from adverse weather
- Clean and safe living environments
- Opportunities to express natural behaviours
- Appropriate veterinary care and preventative health measures
Animal health records are maintained and reviewed to ensure treatments, illnesses, veterinary interventions and welfare observations are properly documented.
Veterinary Care and Disease Prevention
We work closely with veterinary professionals and our animals receive regular health checks to help ensure they remain healthy and receive the highest standard of care.
Where necessary, we seek veterinary advice immediately and implement treatment plans to safeguard the health and welfare of the animals concerned.
We take proactive measures to minimise the risk of transmissible diseases and maintain high standards of biosecurity across the farm.
These measures may include:
- Routine veterinary inspections
- Preventative healthcare programmes
- Vaccination programmes where appropriate
- Isolation of new or unwell animals when required
- Enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures
- Monitoring for signs of illness or disease
- Compliance with government and veterinary guidance relating to livestock health
Biosecurity Measures
Protecting animal health is a responsibility we take extremely seriously.
To minimise the risk of disease transmission, visitors may occasionally be required to follow specific guidance or temporary restrictions.
These measures may include:
- Handwashing requirements
- Use of disinfectant foot dips
- Restrictions on entering certain areas
- Restrictions on feeding animals
- Temporary suspension of animal interactions
- Additional biosecurity controls following veterinary, APHA or government guidance
Whilst these measures may occasionally cause minor inconvenience, they are implemented solely to protect the welfare of our animals, visitors and the wider farming community.
We kindly ask all visitors to follow any instructions provided by our team.
Visitor Experiences and Animal Welfare
We are proud to provide educational and memorable experiences that allow visitors to learn about British farming and spend time around our animals.
However, animal welfare will always take priority over visitor experiences.
Our animals are never forced to interact with visitors and remain free to move away or disengage from interactions at any time.
We carefully monitor animal behaviour throughout all experiences and reserve the right to modify, postpone or cancel any activity if we believe doing so is in the best interests of the animals.
All interactions are supervised by trained members of our team.
We do not permit any activity that may cause unnecessary stress, fear, discomfort or harm to our animals.
Visitor Responsibilities
We ask all visitors to treat our animals with kindness, patience and respect.
Visitors must:
- Follow all instructions given by members of staff
- Respect animal boundaries and behaviour
- Remain within designated visitor areas unless authorised by staff
- Not feed animals without permission
- Not enter restricted areas
- Not engage in behaviour likely to distress, frighten or endanger animals
Highland Cow Cottage reserves the right to refuse access, modify experiences or ask visitors to leave if we believe animal welfare or safety may be compromised.
Continual Improvement
Animal welfare is an ongoing commitment.
We continually review our facilities, husbandry practices, visitor experiences and management procedures to identify opportunities for improvement.
We actively engage with veterinary professionals, industry bodies, agricultural organisations and government agencies to ensure we remain informed of current best practice and emerging animal welfare guidance.
As a working farm, we believe excellent welfare standards are achieved through knowledge, observation, experience and a genuine respect for the animals in our care.
Our Promise
Every animal at Highland Cow Cottage is valued as an individual.
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of animal care and welfare whilst providing visitors with an authentic, educational and enjoyable farming experience.
The welfare of our animals will always remain our highest priority.
Karl & Kelly Lattion
Highland Cow Cottage