higher biology - unit 3.4: animal welfare

what are the four main types of livestock in UK?

poultry, sheep, cattle, pigs

benefits of free range farming

more ethical due to greater animal welfare, products can be sold at a higher price

costs of free range farming

requires more land and is more labour intensive

benefits of intensive farming

more cost effective, leading to higher profits

costs of intensive farming

poor animal welfare

behavioural indicators of poor animal welfare

stereotypy, misdirected behaviour, failure in sexual behaviour and parental behaviour, altered activity levels

stereotypy

repetitive behaviour patterns e.g. chewing, pacing

misdirected behaviour

self mutilation e.g. excessive licking, plucking

failure in sexual behaviour

unsuccessful reproduction

failure in parental behaviour

rejection of offspring

altered activity levels

unusually very high (hysteria) or low (apathy) levels of activity

failures in sexual and parental behaviour can be overcome by ensuring that...

young mammals have social contact with their own kind in a good environment