Animal Welfare

Year 1 - Normal Animal

five freedoms

freedome from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain/injury/disease, fear, to express normal behaviour

five domains of welfare

nutrition, environment, behavioural interactions, health, mental state

welfare science

applying scientific methods to examine and improve animal welfare

welfare ethics

the moral issues in how we treat animals

welfare legislation

society determining how we must treat animals

reasons for animal welfare assessment

to improve welfare, compliance with welfare legislation, assures standard of food, allows consumer choice

animal-based measures of welfare

health: disease, movement, appetite, activity, body condition, production, cleanliness

emotional state: time budget, stress behaviours, positive emotional expression

ways to measure animal welfare

physical examination, preference testing, consumer demand testing, qualitative behavioural assessment, quality of life measures, condition scoring

scientific solutions to welfare problems

genetics/breeding, treatments, behaviour studies

Animal Welfare Act (2006)

legislation including all domestic animals which made it an offence to cause an animal unnecessary suffering and introduced duty of care of owners to take all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of their animals

Animal Welfare Sentience Act (2022)

all vertebrates and some invertebrates have sentience and must be considered

animals that are protected by law

vertebrates commonly domesticated in the British Isles, under control of man or not living in a wild state

powers for authorities under the Animal Welfare Act

taking possession of animals, destruction of animals, imprisonment, fine, disqualification from animal ownership orders

role of the vet to uphold animal welfare

advise clients, professional witness, enforcement authority, policy development

requirements for Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations

animals are not caused unnecessary pain or suffering, staff are trained and competent, frequent inspections, bedding is well maintained and dry, well drained lying area, ill/injured animals are treated without delay, records are kept, freedom of movement, feed and water provided, buildings/equipment are clean and don’t cause injury

legal farm animal mutilations

castration, dehorning/disbudding, tail docking

requirements for transport of animals

animals should be slaughtered as close to their farms of origin as possible, journey is properly planned, animals are fit to travel, suitable vehicle and loading facilities are used, animal handlers are trained, water, food and rest are given to animals, sufficient space

negative effects of intensification on farm animals

associated disease problems, metabolic disease in cattle, skeletal problems in poultry, increased disease risk, less individual animal attention, social stress, reduction in grazing and outdoor production, confined systems can limit natural behaviours

positive effects of intensification on farm animals

specialist trained staff, purpose designed housing, more use of technologies for monitoring (allows early detection of disease), can have better biosecurity, more research for better understanding of behavioural needs

effect of lower prices on farms

more difficult to invest, pressure to make cost savings, less money for labour/vet fees, can cause lower animal welfare

solutions to reduce prevalence of disease in farms

preventative care, prompt treatment, improved biosecurity, sustainable solutions, surveillance, training for farmers and workers, more research, improved vet-farmer partnership

organisations that uphold farm animal welfare

world trade organisation, world organisation for animal health, farm animal welfare council

role of the world trade organisation in farm animal welfare

to determine the international rules of trade of all goods and regulations concerning trade and animal welfare standards

role of WOAH in farm animal welfare

responsible for improving animal health worldwide, coordinates international efforts to control animal diseases

requirements for chickens

access to food and water, ability to forage, peck and scratch, able to run and flap wings, opportunities to explore their complex environment, safe and secluded place to nest, opportunity for a dust bath, able to interact with other chickens, safe, quiet and high space to rest, shelter for protection, variety of comfortable places to perch

welfare issues for laying hens

lack of space, high stocking densities, bone breakages, feather pecking (which can cause beak trimming), lack of natural light, umable to express natural behaviours, disease, handling stress, mortality, killing of day-old chicks

welfare issues for broiler chickens

high stocking density, fast growth rate, lameness due to deep muscle myopathies, lack of natural light, unable to express natural behaviours, litter hygiene, poor air quality, feed restriction, mortality, handling, stress during transport and slaughter, lower activity, metabolic and physiological problems

requirements for pigs

access to good feed and water, space to exercise, escape and socialise, material and soil to root around in, learning by exploring a varied environment, ability to wallow, able to interact with sow/young, sufficient light to see and interact with surroundings, shelter, comfortable and clean places to lie down

fattening pig welfare issues

space allowance, barren environments, lack of environmental enrichment, routine mutilations, heat and cold stress, natural light, mortality, transport stress, boredom

sow welfare issues

sow stalls when pregnant, farrowing crates after birth, barren environments, lack of environmental enrichment, access to nesting materials and bedding, managing aggression in group housing, space allowance, heat stress, lameness, transport stress

alternatives to sow confinement

provide nest building materials (nesting triggers inactivity to prepare for farrowing), thermal comfort, heat lamps for piglets, solid flooring with slatted flooring edge for hygiene (slats can cause injury), can be kept outside in straw-filled huts

requirements for dairy cows

access to water, opportunity to graze and socialise, able to nurture young, space to roam and avoid dominant cows, calm and gentle handling, comfortable floor, opportunity to create bonds with other cows, spacious and comfortable place to rest, shelter, fibre rich diet to effectively ruminate

welfare issues with dairy cows

intensification, metabolicc disease, housed inside all year round, mastitis, lameness, heat stress, short lifespans

requirements for dairy calves

access to water, able to graze and choose food, able to be with mother, space to exercise and play, good quality colostrum after birth, unrestricted milk consumption, able to create bonds and play with other calves, comfortable warm place to rest, able to interact with a complex environment, good forage to learn how to ruminate

welfare issues with dairy calves

lack of environmental enrichment, feed restriction, space provision, social isolation, removal from the dam, bedding provision, routine mutilations, cold stress, disease and mortality, transport stress

welfare issues with beef cattle

routine mutilations, dystocia, disease, inadequate nutrition, lameness, stress and injury during handling, housing during winter, transport stress

beef cattle/sheep welfare solutions

regular weighing/body condition scoring, herd health planning, solid flooring with deep, dry bedding when housed indoors, access to pasture during grazing season, shade and shelter, kept in stable groups, avoid routine mutilations and use pain relief, provide training for workers, good handling equipment, environmental enrichment, reduce transport times, use stunning pre-slaughter

sheep welfare issues

castration/tail docking without analgesia or anaesthetic, lameness, lamb losses, lack of veterinary input

farmed fish welfare issues

high stocking densities causing stress, inappropriate water temperatures, poor water quality, increased disease and injury, poor management practices, transport stress, unacceptable slaughter methods

legislation that protects farm animals

animal welfare legislation, animal welfare codes, farm assurance schemes and retailers

species included within equids

horses, donkeys, mules, zebras

equine behavioural characteristics in the wild

live in herds of 3-10, complex social structures, flee in response to danger

donkey behavioural characteristics in the wild

social plasticity, jacks hold territories, jennys guard water or food resources, stronger fight instinct than horses

donkey behavioural characteristics in a domestic setting

form long-term pair bonds, sociable when resources aren’t limited, intelligent, will choose to socialise with other donkeys over horses or humans, very subtle behaviours (often mask injury/disease)

equine behavioural characteristics in domestic settings

poor problem solving skills, can form strong bonds with other horses or humans, prone to developing abnormal behaviours when stressed or confined

features of donkey hooves

draw up moisture from environment which causes them to become waterlogged in wet conditions causing disease and abscess formation

legislation protecting equids

animal welfare act, riding establishments act, control of horses act, welfare of animals transport legislation

requirements for equids

friends, forage, freedom

equid welfare issues

delayed euthanasia, lack of recognition of pain behaviour, obesity, issues in elderly health, large worm burdens, lack of biosecurity and disease surveillance, transport stress, injuries or death competing, fly grazing, welfare standards at slaughter, indiscriminate breeding