The RSPCA has hailed the “huge news” that its campaign for farmers to be incentivised for delivering the highest welfare standards could be on the verge of success.

The Welsh Government has outlined plans linked to the eagerly anticipated Agriculture (Wales) Bill.

The Bill is set to pave the way for a new Sustainable Farming Scheme for Wales, which will set the terms of how farmers are subsidised in Wales following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

RSPCA has long called for farmers delivering the highest welfare standards on their farms to be incentivised – encouraging those keeping Wales’ millions of farm animals to deliver the very best welfare outcomes.

Kate Parkes, from the charity’s farm animals department, said: “At RSPCA Cymru, over the last couple of years, we’ve championed how a future Agriculture (Wales) Bill could provide the biggest opportunity for farm animal welfare in the history of devolution.

“There are tens of millions of farm animals in Wales, so a policy change offers tens of millions of opportunities to ensure an animal has a better quality of life.”