Austria is a good performer under the VACI, and is one of the best ranked developed countries overall (behind Switzerland and Germany).
There are good scientific grounds to see nonhuman animals as beings with a free will, autonomy and reason. And for such beings, the primary objective should be liberation from human dominance.
Martin Balluch
Austria is a good performer under the VACI, and is one of the best ranked developed countries overall (behind Switzerland and Germany).
Austrians slaughter around 10.5 land animals per person / year. Whilst this is only slightly higher than the global average (of around 9.7), it is relatively low when compared with other developed countries surveyed. Whilst factory farming methods continue to be used in Austria (particularly for poultry production), the use of sow stalls 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 57.5% (compared with a global average of around 35%). This equates to each Austrian consuming around 59g of animal protein each day (compared with a global average of 26.7g). According to Austrian animal protection organisation Association Against Animal Factory (VGT), around 9% of the population identified as vegetarian or vegan as at 2013.
Austria was given an “A” under the Animal Protection Index (API), and was the highest ranked country under Sanctioning Cruelty category. This is due to Austria’s strong and progressive animal protection laws, particularly for farm animals. You can learn more about the quality of Austria’s animal protection laws in the Animal Protection Index here.