"There are good scientific grounds to see nonhuman animals as beings with a free will, autonomy and reason"
Martin Balluch
Austria is an adequate performer (“C”) under the VACI. The country has a high level of animal product consumption, strong enforcement of animal protection legislation and moderate reliance on farmed animal production compared to other high-income countries.
Austrians slaughter around 11.5 land animals per person per year. While slightly higher than the global average, it is low compared to other high-income countries. Factory farming is used (particularly with chickens and other farmed birds) but the use of sow stalls in pig farming is restricted (although farrowing crates are still permitted) and cages for egg-laying hens have been banned (including 'enriched' cages).
The share of land-based animal protein in the Austrian diet is relatively high at around 58%, versus a global average of 35.2%. Each Austrian consumes around 61g of animal protein each day, compared with a global average of 27.2g. A survey conducted in 2013 by Austrian animal protection organisation Association Against Animal Factories (VGT) states that around 9% of the population identified as vegetarian or vegan.
Austria is rated as a good performer ("B") under the Animal Protection Index (API), and its farmed animal protection legislation achieved a good performance rating ("B") under the same index. The country has strong government accountability for animal protection, and fulsome incorporation of OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) standards in its legislation. The government imposes heavy fines for breaches of its legislation. You can learn more about the quality of Austria's legislative protections in the Animal Protection Index here.