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Published on: March 20, 2018
Animal welfare: concepts and measurement
1Dept. of Clin. Vet. Med., Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
Journal of Animal Science
|October 1, 1991
Summary
Animal welfare is measurable and can be poor even without suffering. This study reviews situations leading to poor welfare, emphasizing lack of environmental control and direct measurement indicators.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Ethology
- Veterinary Medicine
Background:
- Welfare is defined as an individual's state relative to its environment.
- Poor welfare is indicated by failure or difficulty in coping with environmental challenges.
- Welfare is distinct from suffering and should not be solely defined by subjective experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review situations leading to poor animal welfare.
- To highlight the role of individual control over environmental interactions.
- To discuss methods for assessing animal welfare.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on animal welfare.
- Analysis of indicators of poor welfare.
- Discussion of assessment measures including responsiveness, stereotypies, and preferences.
Main Results:
- Poor welfare indicators include reduced life expectancy, impaired growth/reproduction, body damage, disease, immunosuppression, adrenal activity, behavioral anomalies, and self-narcotization.
- Lack of control over environmental interactions is a key factor in poor welfare.
- Measures of responsiveness, stereotypies, and animal preferences are valuable for welfare assessment.
Conclusions:
- Direct measurement of poor welfare is essential.
- Sophisticated studies of animal preferences contribute to welfare assessment.
- A comprehensive approach to welfare assessment is needed, considering both objective indicators and subjective experiences.
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