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Journal articles on the topic 'Positive animal welfare'
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Hollands, Clive. "Toward positive animal welfare." Behavioral and Brain Sciences 14, no. 4 (December 1991): 757–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0140525x00072381.
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Vigors, Belinda. "Citizens’ and Farmers’ Framing of ‘Positive Animal Welfare’ and the Implications for Framing Positive Welfare in Communication." Animals 9, no. 4 (April 4, 2019): 147. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9040147.
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Human perception can depend on how an individual frames information in thought and how information is framed in communication. For example, framing something positively, instead of negatively, can change an individual’s response. This is of relevance to ‘positive animal welfare’, which places greater emphasis on farm animals being provided with opportunities for positive experiences. However, little is known about how this framing of animal welfare may influence the perception of key animal welfare stakeholders. Through a qualitative interview study with farmers and citizens, undertaken in Scotland, UK, this paper explores what positive animal welfare evokes to these key welfare stakeholders and highlights the implications of such internal frames for effectively communicating positive welfare in society. Results indicate that citizens make sense of positive welfare by contrasting positive and negative aspects of welfare, and thus frame it as animals having ‘positive experiences’ or being ‘free from negative experiences’. Farmers draw from their existing frames of animal welfare to frame positive welfare as ‘good husbandry’, ‘proactive welfare improvement’ or the ‘animal’s point of view’. Implications of such internal frames (e.g., the triggering of ‘negative welfare’ associations by the word ‘positive’) for the effective communication of positive welfare are also presented.
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Petkun, H., O. Martyniuk, and V. Nedosekov. "POSITIVE WELFARE INDICATORS IN DAIRY ANIMALS." One Health Journal, no. II (March 5, 2023): 39–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.31073/onehealthjournal2023-ii-06.
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The concept of "positive welfare" arose in response to the heavy focus on negative aspects when assessing the overall welfare of animals. Although one of the main components of welfare is the emotional status. The aim of this paper is to study and describe the existing, promising, reliable and feasible indicators of the positive welfare of dairy cows on farms. We conducted a search and critical analysis of scientific literature, articles, books and welfare assessment protocols in international databases (Web of Science, PubMed and ResearchGate) using the key words "positive «welfare», «indicator», «comfort», «relationship between human and animal», «emotions», «natural behaviour», «pleasure» combined with «cattle» and «cow». For structure, all indicators were divided into 4 groups: feeding, environment, behaviour and position of animal body parts.
A number of the most relevant and feasible indicators for assessing positive welfare in dairy cows were identified, namely: access to pasture, lying comfort, synchronization and qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA). Studies of the positions of the ears, tail and vocalization in dairy animals are promising for the further development of tests. Also an important indicator is the level of relations between a human and animal, as this indicator has a significant impact on the animal welfare.
We consider it relevant to conduct a practical study of these parameters directly on the farm with subsequent inclusion in the protocol for assessing the welfare of the dairy herd. We believe that this review will create a platform for research and discussion about the positive welfare of cows in Ukraine.
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Boivin, X., J. Lensink, C. Tallet, and I. Veissier. "Stockmanship and Farm Animal Welfare." Animal Welfare 12, no. 4 (November 2003): 479–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0962728600026075.
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AbstractHuman factors (attitudes, personality traits, self-esteem, job satisfaction) strongly determine our behaviour towards animals, animal production and animal welfare. Recent studies have emphasised positive human contacts as indicators of a stockperson's positive attitude towards animals and towards animal welfare in general. Stockmanship can be improved by careful selection of people and/or by training. However, little is known of the biological basis of the effect of stock handling procedures on the welfare of animals. The animal's perception of the stockperson (based both on emotional responses and cognitive aspects such as anticipation, recognition and categorisation), and the existence of sensitive periods in an animal's life, need to be explored in more depth, especially under farm conditions. We need to consider the complexity of human behaviour (eg husbandry practices, balance between positive and negative interactions, predictability, controllability) and its effect on animal welfare from the animal's point of view throughout its whole life. This paper identifies the importance of positive human contacts for both animals and stockpeople, and highlights the challenge to maintain such positive contacts despite the trend in modern agriculture to increase the number of animals per stockperson. This requires better knowledge of animal genetics, socialisation to humans during sensitive periods, and management of the social group. We emphasise the ethical importance of the human-animal relationship in the context of farm animal welfare and productivity.
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Miller, Lance J., Greg A. Vicino, Jessica Sheftel, and Lisa K. Lauderdale. "Behavioral Diversity as a Potential Indicator of Positive Animal Welfare." Animals 10, no. 7 (July 16, 2020): 1211. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani10071211.
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Modern day zoos and aquariums continuously assess the welfare of their animals and use evidence to make informed management decisions. Historically, many of the indicators of animal welfare used to assess the collection are negative indicators of welfare, such as stereotypic behavior. However, a lack of negative indicators of animal welfare does not demonstrate that an individual animal is thriving. There is a need for validated measures of positive animal welfare and there is a growing body of evidence that supports the use of behavioral diversity as a positive indicator of welfare. This includes an inverse relationship with stereotypic behavior as well as fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and is typically higher in situations thought to promote positive welfare. This review article highlights previous research on behavioral diversity as a potential positive indicator of welfare. Details are provided on how to calculate behavioral diversity and how to use it when evaluating animal welfare. Finally, the review will indicate how behavioral diversity can be used to inform an evidence-based management approach to animal care and welfare.
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Lawrence, Alistair B., Belinda Vigors, and Peter Sandøe. "What Is so Positive about Positive Animal Welfare?—A Critical Review of the Literature." Animals 9, no. 10 (October 11, 2019): 783. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9100783.
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It is claimed that positive animal welfare (PAW) developed over the last decade in reaction to animal welfare focusing too much on avoiding negatives. However, it remains unclear what PAW adds to the animal welfare literature and to what extent its ideas are new. Through a critical review of the PAW literature, we aim to separate different aspects of PAW and situate it in relation to the traditional animal welfare literature. We find that the core PAW literature is small (n = 10 papers) but links to wider areas of current research interest. The PAW literature is defined by four features: (1) positive emotions which is arguably the most widely acknowledged; (2) positive affective engagement which serves to functionally link positive emotions to goal-directed behavior; (3) quality of life which serves to situate PAW within the context of finding the right balance of positives over negatives; (4) happiness which brings a full life perspective to PAW. While the two first points are already part of welfare research going back decades, the two latter points could be linked to more recent research agendas concerning aggregation and how specific events may affect the ability of animals to make the best of their lives.
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Papageorgiou, Maria, and Panagiotis E. Simitzis. "Positive Welfare Indicators in Dairy Animals." Dairy 3, no. 4 (November 18, 2022): 814–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/dairy3040056.
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Nowadays, there is growing interest in positive animal welfare not only from the view of scientists but also from that of society. The consumer demands more sustainable livestock production, and animal welfare is an essential part of sustainability, so there is interest in incorporating positive welfare indicators into welfare assessment schemes and legislation. The aim of this review is to cite all the positive welfare indicators that have been proposed for dairy animals in theory or practice. In total, twenty-four indicators were retrieved. The most promising are exploration, access to pasture, comfort and resting, feeding, and behavioral synchronicity. Qualitative behavioral assessment (QBA), social affiliative behaviors, play, maternal care, ear postures, vocalizations, visible eye white, nasal temperature, anticipation, cognitive bias, laterality, and oxytocin have been also studied in dairy ruminants. QBA is the indicator that is most often used for the on-farm welfare assessment. Among all dairy animals, studies have been performed mostly on cattle, followed by sheep and goats, and finally buffaloes. The research on camel welfare is limited. Therefore, there is a need for further research and official assessment protocols for buffaloes and especially camels.
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Vigors, Belinda, and Alistair Lawrence. "What Are the Positives? Exploring Positive Welfare Indicators in a Qualitative Interview Study with Livestock Farmers." Animals 9, no. 9 (September 17, 2019): 694. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9090694.
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To support the furtherance of positive animal welfare, there is a need to develop meaningful and practical positive welfare indicators for on-farm welfare assessment. Considering the perspectives of farmers is arguably critical in this regard. Doing so helps ensure positive welfare indicators reflect farmers’ existing welfare norms and attitudes and, are thus, of practical relevance to them. However, a key issue for such development is the dearth of knowledge on farmers’ perspectives of positive welfare. To address this, this study uses qualitative interviews to directly examine livestock farmers’ perspectives of positive welfare. Findings reveal that farmers describe elements of positive welfare which are broadly in line with indicators suggested in the positive welfare literature. These elements include animal autonomy, play, positive affect, positive human-animal relationships, social interaction, and appropriate genetic selection. Additionally, this study finds that farmers construct the reduction of negative aspects of welfare as their primary management concern and mostly construct positive welfare as arising indirectly from this. Insights into the importance that farmers of different sectors and systems give to different aspects of positive welfare indicators are also explored. The implications of these findings and the similitudes between farmers’ perspectives and the positive welfare literature are discussed.
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Muhammad, Mukhtar, Jessica E. Stokes, and Louise Manning. "Positive Aspects of Welfare in Sheep: Current Debates and Future Opportunities." Animals 12, no. 23 (November 24, 2022): 3265. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12233265.
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The concept of positive welfare is an expansion of the traditional understanding that animal welfare is defined by minimizing stress, pain, suffering, and disease. Positive welfare shifts the animal welfare narrative from a focus on reducing negative experiences to proactively providing animals with opportunities to have positive experiences and feelings. The concept, although around for several decades, is in its infancy in terms of developing ways of assessing positive welfare on farms, especially in extensive systems, and there are challenges in the adoption of positive welfare practices and the monitoring of continuous improvement at the farm level. Using an iterative approach, this critical review aims to explore the extent to which positive welfare interventions and indicators are positioned and have been developed within the animal welfare literature for sheep. This paper critiques existing positive welfare indicators, such as choices in food and the physical environment, conspecific social synchronization, maternal bonds, intergenerational knowledge transfer, positive human–animal relationships, etc., as currently assessed by the ‘good life framework’. It also reviews the characteristics of scientific measures for (positive) affective states in the current sheep literature and their potential contribution to understanding positive welfare states in sheep. In conclusion, this paper provides recommendations for future research regarding sheep welfare.
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Russell, Alison, Laura Randall, Martin Green, and Jake Thompson. "Positive welfare in dairy cows: role of the vet." In Practice 46, no. 9 (November 2024): 485–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/inpr.487.
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Background: The livestock industry should ensure positive welfare for animals within its care, over and above the five freedoms. It is important that the general public approves of conditions that livestock inhabit for them to continue to purchase these products and feel positive in doing so. As custodians of animal health and welfare, veterinary clinicians must be equipped to advocate for improvements to welfare, as well as conventional herd health and individual case approaches. The environment an animal inhabits will impact its heath and production, but improvements to living conditions will also support positive welfare. Assessment of the environment is an essential step to identify areas to improve in the system; this will allow for subsequent advances in overall living conditions.Aim of the article: This article provides an overview of positive welfare and assessment in dairy cows and guides production animal vets on how to undertake evaluations on farm. It also informs practitioners on developments in the research of positive welfare in dairy cows and discusses how positive welfare opportunities can be provided on farms.
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Mellor, DJ. "Positive animal welfare states and reference standards for welfare assessment." New Zealand Veterinary Journal 63, no. 1 (August 18, 2014): 17–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2014.926802.
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Kim, KilSoo, Woori Jo, and Gwang-Hoon Lee. "Why do we always care about the welfare of laboratory animals?" Open Access Government 39, no. 1 (July 7, 2023): 518–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.56367/oag-36-10808.
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Why do we always care about the welfare of laboratory animals? Seasoned experts from the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (K-MEDI hub) in South Korea share their research perspectives on the welfare of laboratory animals, including the issue of veterinary care. Awareness of animal ethics is changing and rising worldwide, and the concept of animal welfare importance is spreading rapidly. Generally, animal welfare involves not hurting, harassing or recklessly killing animals. In addition, animal welfare involves inducing positive changes in humans and animals, both physically and emotionally. Based on the research and discussion of Ruth Harrison’s claim in 1965, Britain began establishing various animal welfare measures. Subsequently, public opinion on animal welfare has spread widely across Europe.
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Fernandes, Jill N., Paul H. Hemsworth, Grahame J. Coleman, and Alan J. Tilbrook. "Costs and Benefits of Improving Farm Animal Welfare." Agriculture 11, no. 2 (January 27, 2021): 104. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11020104.
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It costs money to improve the welfare of farm animals. For people with animals under their care, there are many factors to consider regarding changes in practice to improve welfare, and the optimal course of action is not always obvious. Decision support systems for animal welfare, such as economic cost–benefit analyses, are lacking. This review attempts to provide clarity around the costs and benefits of improving farm animal welfare, thereby enabling the people with animals under their care to make informed decisions. Many of the costs are obvious. For example, training of stockpeople, reconfiguration of pens, and administration of pain relief can improve welfare, and all incur costs. Other costs are less obvious. For instance, there may be substantial risks to market protection, consumer acceptance, and social licence to farm associated with not ensuring good animal welfare. The benefits of improving farm animal welfare are also difficult to evaluate from a purely economic perspective. Although it is widely recognised that animals with poor welfare are unlikely to produce at optimal levels, there may be benefits of improving animal welfare that extend beyond production gains. These include benefits to the animal, positive effects on the workforce, competitive advantage for businesses, mitigation of risk, and positive social consequences. We summarise these considerations into a decision tool that can assist people with farm animals under their care, and we highlight the need for further empirical evidence to improve decision-making in animal welfare.
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Shoesmith, Emily, Luciana Santos de Assis, Lion Shahab, Elena Ratschen, Paul Toner, Dimitra Kale, Catherine Reeve, and Daniel S. Mills. "The Perceived Impact of The First UK COVID-19 Lockdown on Companion Animal Welfare and Behaviour: A Mixed-Method Study of Associations with Owner Mental Health." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 11 (June 7, 2021): 6171. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116171.
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Background: Companion animals may be a positive presence for their owners during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the welfare of a companion animal is strongly influenced by the behaviour of their owners, as well as their physical and social environment. We aimed to investigate the reported changes in companion animal welfare and behaviour and to examine the association between these changes and companion animal owners’ mental health. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of UK residents over 18 years of age was conducted between April and June 2020 (n = 5926). The questionnaire included validated, bespoke items measuring outcomes related to mental health, human-animal bonds and reported changes in animal welfare and behaviour. The final item of the survey invited open-ended free-text responses, allowing participants to describe experiences associated with human-animal relationships during the first UK lockdown phase. Results: Animal owners made up 89.8% of the sample (n = 5323), of whom 67.3% reported changes in their animal’s welfare and behaviour during the first lockdown phase (n = 3583). These reported changes were reduced to a positive (0–7) and negative (0–5) welfare scale, following principal component analysis (PCA) of 17 items. Participants reported more positive changes for cats, whereas more negative changes were reported for dogs. Thematic analysis identified three main themes relating to the positive and negative impact on companion animals of the COVID-19 pandemic. Generalised linear models indicated that companion animal owners with poorer mental health scores pre-lockdown reported fewer negative changes in animal welfare and behaviour. However, companion animal owners with poorer mental health scores since lockdown reported more changes, both positive and negative, in animal welfare and behaviour. Conclusion: Our findings extend previous insights into perceived welfare and behaviour changes on a very limited range of species to a wider range of companion animals. Owner mental health status has a clear, albeit small, effect on companion animal welfare and behaviour.
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Sherman, Wilson C., Darren E. Minier, Caterina N. Meyers, and Michelle L. Myers. "The More the Merrier? Zoo Visitors’ Affective Responses and Perceptions of Welfare across an Increase in Giraffe Density." Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 3, no. 2 (June 15, 2022): 289–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3020023.
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Zoos strive to create experiences that inspire positive feelings toward animals which lead to conservation behaviors in their visitors. However, concerns regarding the welfare of animals living in zoos present a challenge in creating positive zoo experiences and promoting the conservation agenda and moral authority of these cultural institutions. This research explores connections between zoo visitors’ positive affective responses and their assessments of animal welfare before and after two giraffes were introduced to a group of four giraffes in a multi-species savannah exhibit. A self administered questionnaire was completed by 499 visitors to the Conservation Society of California’s Oakland Zoo. The questionnaire measured visitors’ predispositions, affective responses, and assessments of animal welfare. Results suggest that visitors’ assessments of animal welfare, positive affective experience, and predisposition are positively correlated. Further, visitor assessments of animal welfare are generally more positive after the addition of new giraffes. Although visitors tended to report that the giraffes were very healthy and well cared for, they responded less positively when asked about how happy the giraffes were and how adequately sized their exhibit was. The findings suggest that understanding and improving zoo visitors’ assessments of animal welfare is important in improving positive experiences and conservation education outcomes during a visit to the zoo.
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Jirkof, Paulin, Juliane Rudeck, and Lars Lewejohann. "Assessing Affective State in Laboratory Rodents to Promote Animal Welfare—What Is the Progress in Applied Refinement Research?" Animals 9, no. 12 (November 25, 2019): 1026. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9121026.
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An animal’s capacity to suffer is a prerequisite for any animal welfare concern, and the minimization of suffering is a key aim of refinement research. In contrast to the traditional focus on avoiding or reducing negative welfare states, modern animal welfare concepts highlight the importance of promoting positive welfare states in laboratory animals. Reliable assessments of affective states, as well as the knowledge of how to elicit positive affective states, are central to this concept. Important achievements have been made to assess pain and other negative affective states in animals in the last decades, but it is only recently that the neurobiology of positive emotions in humans and animals has been gaining more interest. Thereby, the need for promotion of positive affective states for laboratory animals is gaining more acceptance, and methods allowing the assessment of affective states in animals have been increasingly introduced. In this overview article, we present common and emerging methods to assess affective states in laboratory rodents. We focus on the implementation of these methods into applied refinement research to identify achieved progress as well as the future potential of these tools to improve animal welfare in animal-based research.
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Rowe, Elizabeth, and Siobhan Mullan. "Advancing a “Good Life” for Farm Animals: Development of Resource Tier Frameworks for On-Farm Assessment of Positive Welfare for Beef Cattle, Broiler Chicken and Pigs." Animals 12, no. 5 (February 23, 2022): 565. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12050565.
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There is increasing recognition that farm animal welfare standards should ensure positive welfare, as well as prevent negative welfare. Resources that are valued by an animal and that provide opportunities to engage in motivated behaviours can elicit positive physical and emotional states and therefore positive welfare and a “good life” for farmed animals. Evaluation of resource provision is considered the best way of assessing positive welfare at present, in the absence of validated and practical animal-based measures. Previous research has outlined a framework of three tiers of increasingly positive welfare (Welfare +, Welfare ++, Welfare +++) containing resources that incrementally increase the opportunities for a good life over and above the requirements of UK law and code of practice. Based on this blueprint, “Good Life Frameworks” were developed for beef cattle, broiler chickens and pigs, containing resources that increase good life opportunities according to the scientific literature and expert consultation. We describe the initial development of these frameworks, including a piloting exercise with the UK farm assurance industry, to further refine the frameworks according to auditor and farmer feedback, and test the frameworks as a method of on-farm assessment and assurance of a “good life” for farm animals.
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Ameli, Katharina, Theresa F. Braun, and Stephanie Krämer. "Animal-Assisted Interventions and Animal Welfare—An Exploratory Survey in Germany." Animals 13, no. 8 (April 12, 2023): 1324. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13081324.
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Background: Animals play a crucial role in social occupational fields. The positive effects of animals are described in theory and practice. However, the significance of animal welfare in animal-assisted intervention settings has not yet been extensively researched, so that the aim of this explorative study was to investigate the perception and significance as well as the understanding of animal welfare and its implementation on the part of professionals working with animals. Methods: In the present project, 270 animal-assisted professionals from Germany were interviewed about their individual perceptions of animal welfare and their implementation of animal welfare with the help of questionnaires with closed questions (5-point agreement scale) and open questions. The quantitative data were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS and MS Excel. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic coding. Results: The quantitative and qualitative results show that animal welfare poses high importance for people working in animal-assisted interventions. The structure and design of assignments, animal-related aspects and conditions, and education and knowledge are mentioned as generally relevant conditions for ensuring animal welfare from the perspective of animal-assisted intervention practitioners. In addition, different concrete courses of action to ensure animal welfare are described, which are characterized as stopping or changing the setting at different levels. Conclusions: Animal welfare plays a central role for professionals working with animals. However, further studies are necessary in order to record other animal welfare-relevant aspects in the animal-assisted interventions, depending on the respective animal species, and to examine the implementation of animal welfare-related measures.
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Acharya, Rutu Y., Paul H. Hemsworth, Grahame J. Coleman, and James E. Kinder. "The Animal-Human Interface in Farm Animal Production: Animal Fear, Stress, Reproduction and Welfare." Animals 12, no. 4 (February 16, 2022): 487. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12040487.
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A negative human-animal relationship (HAR) from the perspective of the animal is a limiting factor affecting farm animal welfare, as well as farm animal productivity. Research in farm animals has elucidated sequential relationships between stockperson attitudes, stockperson behaviour, farm animal fear behaviour, farm animal stress physiology, and farm animal productivity. In situations where stockperson attitudes to and interactions with farm animals are sub-optimal, through animal fear and stress, both animal welfare and productivity, including reproductive performance, can be compromised. There is a growing body of evidence that farm animals often seek and enjoy interacting with humans, but our understanding of the effects of a positive HAR on stress resilience and productivity in farm animals is limited. In this review, we explore the pathways by which stress induced by human-animal interactions can negatively affect farm animal reproduction, in particular, via inhibitory effects on the secretion of gonadotrophins. We also review the current knowledge of the stockperson characteristics and the nature of stockperson interactions that affect fear and physiological stress in farm animals. The contents of this review provide an insight into the importance of the HAR on farm animal welfare and reproduction while highlighting the gap in knowledge regarding the effects of a positive HAR on farm animals.
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Mariti, Chiara, Federica Pirrone, Mariangela Albertini, Angelo Gazzano, and Silvana Diverio. "Familiarity and Interest in Working with Livestock Decreases the Odds of Having Positive Attitudes towards Non-Human Animals and Their Welfare among Veterinary Students in Italy." Animals 8, no. 9 (August 22, 2018): 150. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani8090150.
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We investigated the attitudes of veterinary students towards animals and their welfare in Italy. Regression analyses revealed predictors that are significant in differentiating students’ scoring tendency based on their gender, familiarity, and intention to work with a specific animal species, type of diet, and membership in an animal rights association. Female students, who were mostly familiar with pets and aspired to work with species other than livestock, following an animal-free diet and being a member of an animal rights association, had a significantly greater odds of having a high Animal Attitude Scale score (AAS), i.e., very positive attitude towards animals, versus a less positive attitude. Conversely, the familiarity with livestock and preference for working with livestock significantly increased the odds of a low AAS. Overall, students considered all of the Brambell Report’s Five Freedoms important for animal welfare protection. However, students scored higher for companion animals than for livestock, particularly regarding the freedom to express normal behaviour and the absence of fear and distress. This study suggests that veterinary students place less importance on the psychological aspects of welfare for livestock, and there is a tendency for students who are mostly familiar, or aspire to work, with livestock to have a less positive attitude towards non-human animals and their welfare. These findings should be considered within the veterinary educational curriculum due to their potential impact on animal welfare.
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Krebs, Bethany, Debra Marrin, Amy Phelps, Lana Krol, and Jason Watters. "Managing Aged Animals in Zoos to Promote Positive Welfare: A Review and Future Directions." Animals 8, no. 7 (July 13, 2018): 116. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani8070116.
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Improvements in veterinary care, nutrition, and husbandry of animals living in zoos have led to an increase in the longevity of these animals over the past 30 years. In this same time period, the focus of animal welfare science has shifted from concerns over mitigating negative welfare impacts to promoting positive welfare experiences for animals. For instance, providing opportunities for animals to exert agency, solve problems, or acquire rewards are all associated with positive welfare outcomes. Many common age-related changes result in limitations to opportunities for positive welfare experiences, either due to pain or other physical, cognitive, or behavioral limitations. This review aggregates information regarding common age-related physical and behavioral changes across species, discusses how age-related changes may limit positive welfare opportunities of aged animals in human care, and suggests potential management methods to help promote positive welfare for animals at all life stages in zoos and aquariums.
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Faver, Catherine A., and Jacqueline D. Muñoz. "Orientations to Nonhuman Animal Welfare: A View from the Border." Society & Animals 22, no. 4 (July 2, 2014): 372–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685306-12341345.
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This study employed an online survey to investigate the nonhuman animal welfare attitudes and behaviors of 104 social work students (85% female) enrolled in a Hispanic-serving university near the U.S.–Mexico border. Approximately three-fourths of the respondents were moderately or very concerned about animal welfare issues. Level of concern about animal welfare issues was significantly related to four pro-animal welfare behaviors: making one’s yard friendly to small animals, encouraging others to adopt rather than purchase companion animals, purchasing products labeled “not tested on animals,” and avoiding meat and dairy products. Female respondents had significantly higher scores on the Animal Attitude Scale, indicating more positive attitudes toward animals, and women and graduate students were significantly more likely to purchase products labeled “not tested on animals.” The findings of the study suggest that social workers are potential allies for animal welfare advocates.
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Mylostyvyi, R. V. "VETERINARY, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF CATTLE WELFARE: A REVIEW." One Health Journal 1, no. IV (December 21, 2023): 28–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.31073/onehealthjournal2023-iv-03.
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The paper presents a review of the literature on cattle welfare. The objective of this review is to outline the veterinary, economic, and social aspects of cattle welfare and highlight the current problems, global trends, and solutions. The global major scientific reference databases (Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus) were reviewed. The review brought the following findings: a change in scientific and practical approaches to the understanding and assessment of the welfare of productive animals that requires not only health maintenance, stress prevention, or the ability of animals to express natural behavior. Animal welfare gains more anthropometric traits, including such concepts as 'pleasure' or 'happiness'. The concept of 'positive welfare' has become a more popular trend in scientific research on animal welfare. The review identified positive trends of possible modification of production systems, to make them more diverse and animal welfare friendly. The research found livestock products consumers growing concerned about animal welfare and housing conditions. The concept of welfare is more commercialized, which encourages livestock producers to adhere to ethical production standards. However, the demand of consumers to meet high standards of animal welfare does not have sufficient economic leverage. Only a few are willing to pay more for the better welfare of the animals or to refuse to consume animal products from production systems with poor welfare conditions. This review was intended to draw the attention of scientists, farmers, and consumers to the problems of the humane treatment of productive animals. And to assist stakeholders in finding their place in the process of creating better conditions for animals that are used for food, helping people with their existence or with their lives.
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Sullivan, Paxton, Sage Mijares, Melissa Davis, Katrina Oselinsky, Catie Cramer, Noa Román-Muñiz, Lorann Stallones, and Lily Edwards-Callaway. "A Nationwide Survey of Animal Science Students’ Perceptions of Animal Welfare across Different Animal Categories at Institutions in the United States." Animals 12, no. 17 (September 5, 2022): 2294. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12172294.
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Animal welfare is an increasingly important topic across multiple academic disciplines; however, few studies have investigated student perceptions of animal welfare outside of veterinary medicine. The objective of the study was to evaluate animal science students’ perceptions of animal welfare to determine if perceptions differ across animal categories. An online survey was distributed to animal science programs at institutions across the United States. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on 624 responses. Almost all respondents agreed welfare was important for all animal categories (≥97%). The survey asked respondents to rate the level of importance of 12 welfare parameters and there was evidence that the level of importance differed by animal category (p < 0.0001), e.g., fewer respondents indicated having positive interactions with humans was important for agricultural animals. In a subset of questions about agricultural animals, fewer respondents agreed that swine (325, 52.1%) and poultry (268, 43.0%) are raised with an appropriate level of welfare compared to dairy (425, 68.1%) and beef cattle (421, 67.5%). Four free-response questions asked respondents to report their general perceptions of welfare. Thematic analysis identified multiple themes, such as basic needs and human interaction, with most responses (75%) including two or more themes.
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Hawkins, Roxanne, Gilly Ferreira, and Joanne Williams. "The Development and Evaluation of ‘Farm Animal Welfare’: An Educational Computer Game for Children." Animals 9, no. 3 (March 13, 2019): 91. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9030091.
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Many children growing up in urban areas of Western countries have limited contact with and knowledge of farm animals and food production systems. Education can play an important role in children’s understanding of farm animal welfare issues, however, most education provided focuses on pets. There is a need to develop new farm animal welfare interventions for young children. This study examines the process of designing, developing, and evaluating the effectiveness of a new theoretically-driven digital game to teach children, aged 6–13 years, about farm animal welfare. ‘Farm Animal Welfare’ aimed to promote children’s knowledge about animal welfare, promote beliefs about animal sentience, and promote positive attitudes and compassion. A quasi-experimental design was carried out, using self-report questionnaires that children (n = 133, test = 69, control = 64) completed in the classroom. Test and control groups were from different schools and the control group did not engage in the intervention. Findings indicate a positive impact on beliefs about animal minds, knowledge about animal welfare needs, and knowledge about welfare in different farming systems, but there was no change in compassion or attitudes about cruelty. This study presents the first evaluation of a digital animal welfare education intervention for children, demonstrating the benefits of incorporating ‘serious games’ into farm animal welfare education. The findings will inform future practice around farm animal welfare education interventions for primary school children.
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Mendl, M., O. Burman, K. Laughlin, and E. Paul. "Animal Memory and Animal Welfare." Animal Welfare 10, S1 (February 2001): S141—S159. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0962728600023587.
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AbstractRetrieved memories of emotionally laden events are likely to influence the ongoing emotional state and behaviour of animals. If animals consciously experience memories and/or associated emotions, then recall of aversive or pleasurable events will affect their welfare. Even if they do not, retrieval of these (non-conscious/implicit) memories may result in behaviour, such as attempts to escape, that could lead to injury and damage. There is growing evidence that emotionally laden events are more readily stored in memory than neutral ones, and that the neurophysiological basis of this, involving acute elevations of the classic stress hormones and the action of the amygdala, is similar in humans and other vertebrate species. Thus, in humans and animals, emotional memories are likely to be stored as priority information and may readily be retrieved in the presence of relevant cues. If so, an important practical goal is to minimize the chances of negative emotional memories being cued inappropriately, especially for animals in captivity. Disruption of memory formation and retrieval is also important in an animal welfare context. Chronic or very high elevations of stress hormones appear to have both short- and long-term effects on brain structure and function that can interfere with efficient storage of information. Environmental disturbances, including common husbandry procedures, can also disrupt memory formation through retroactive interference effects. Elevated stress levels may both increase the chances of retrieval of negative information while hampering the retrieval of positive or neutral information. These effects may lead to poor learning abilities, selective or disrupted memory retrieval, and consequent inappropriate behaviour with adverse welfare consequences. If we understand them, we may be able to recommend housing or husbandry procedures that minimize the likelihood of their occurrence.
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Christensen, Karen. "183 Food Animal Welfare: Why Producers Should Care about Animal Welfare." Journal of Animal Science 97, Supplement_3 (December 2019): 13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz258.025.
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Abstract How food animals are treated has become a significant topic for meat producers, customers and consumers. The US population is now many generations away being actively engaged in agricultural production and are asking questions about how their food is produced. Unfortunately, the information that is available to consumers is not always accurate or positive for livestock producers. Farmers have little or no trust with the consumer and they are looking to other sources for information. How we communicate with our customers, consumers and the public is key to providing accurate information and creating trust in our industry. Auditing can play a role in providing a bridge to our customers and consumers. The goal is transparency of our production practices and documenting continuous improvement. Communicating that our values are aligned with the consumers values will be the key to improving trust with our customers and consumers
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Basak, Gourab, Simranpreet Kaur, Ambika Sharma, and Ashish Kumar. "Animal Welfare: Reflections and Ethical Implications of Animal Biotechnology." Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology 27, no. 6 (May 28, 2024): 754–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.9734/jabb/2024/v27i6936.
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When adopting diverse biotechnology technologies to boost farm animal productivity, animal welfare is always prioritized. Various measures can be used to determine how excellent or awful ethical procedures are. We need to develop some strategies for assessing welfare. The purpose of this paper is to provide a quick overview of both the bad and positive elements of biotechnology in animal welfare.
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Miller, Lance J., and Sathya K. Chinnadurai. "Beyond the Five Freedoms: Animal Welfare at Modern Zoological Facilities." Animals 13, no. 11 (May 31, 2023): 1818. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13111818.
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The current manuscript highlights the aspects of an animal welfare program for a modern zoological facility. The program should be proactive to identify areas for continuous improvement as well as reactive to address any identified animal welfare concerns. The program should go beyond the five freedoms and utilize one of the more modern frameworks as a foundation for the program. The program should have an animal welfare committee where staff can submit animal welfare concerns without fear of retaliation. Ongoing monitoring of all individual animals should utilize both positive and negative indicators of welfare. Staff should be trained on the most current science and be able to understand key concepts about animal welfare. Facilities should also utilize new scientific findings to continuously improve animal care practices. Modern zoological institutions, including both zoos and aquariums, have an ethical responsibility to provide high levels of animal welfare for the animals under their professional care. Simply meeting minimum standards developed decades ago is not adequate, as animals should have the opportunity to thrive.
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Miller, Lance J., Lisa K. Lauderdale, Jocelyn L. Bryant, Jill D. Mellen, Michael T. Walsh, and Douglas A. Granger. "Behavioral diversity as a potential positive indicator of animal welfare in bottlenose dolphins." PLOS ONE 16, no. 8 (August 30, 2021): e0253113. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253113.
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Accredited zoological facilities are committed to fully understanding the behavioral, mental, and physical needs of each species to continuously improve the welfare of the animals under their professional care and detect when welfare has diminished. In order to accomplish this goal, internally consistent and externally valid indicators of animal welfare are necessary to advance our understanding of the current welfare status of individual animals. Historically, efforts have focused on monitoring visible or observable signs of poor health or problem behavior, but lack of signs or problems does not necessarily demonstrate that an individual animal is thriving. The current study examined fecal hormone metabolite levels and behavior for two species of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus and Tursiops aduncus) from 25 different accredited zoological facilities. At the time of the study, all facilities were accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and/or the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This was part of the multi-institutional study ‘Towards understanding of the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums” commonly referred to as the Cetacean Welfare Study. Behavioral diversity was calculated using the Shannon Diversity Index on species-appropriate behavioral events. Behavioral diversity was compared to the fecal metabolites of cortisol, aldosterone, and the ratio of cortisol to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as well as the stereotypic behavior of route tracing. Similar to previous studies on other species, there was a significant inverse relationship between behavioral diversity and both fecal cortisol metabolites and route tracing. Additionally, a significant inverse relationship also exists between behavioral diversity and the ratio of fecal cortisol to DHEA metabolites. Behavioral diversity and fecal aldosterone metabolites were not associated. Additional research is still needed to validate behavioral diversity as an indicator of positive animal welfare for bottlenose dolphins and across species. However, based on current results, facilities could utilize behavioral diversity combined with other measures of welfare to more comprehensively evaluate the welfare of bottlenose dolphins.
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McDowall, Sonya, Susan J. Hazel, Catherine Chittleborough, Anne Hamilton-Bruce, Rwth Stuckey, and Tiffani J. Howell. "The Impact of the Social Determinants of Human Health on Companion Animal Welfare." Animals 13, no. 6 (March 21, 2023): 1113. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13061113.
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The social determinants of health (SDH) focus on the social, physical and economic factors that impact human health. Studies have revealed that animal guardians face a range of challenges in attaining positive welfare outcomes for their companion animals, which can be influenced by socioeconomic and environmental factors. Despite this, there is a lack of research specifically exploring the relationship between SDH and animal welfare outcomes. Given that the SDH impact on humans, which in turn directly impacts on their companion animal, it is important to adapt an SDH framework for companion animal welfare by characterising the impact of the SDH on companion animal guardians in their attempts to care for their animals and, by extension, the associated welfare outcomes. This paper explores how these human health determinants may impact animal welfare and the possible challenges that may arise for the guardian when attempting to meet their companion animal’s welfare needs. By integrating the SDH with other key frameworks, including the five domains model of animal welfare, through multidisciplinary collaboration, this framework can be used to inform future programs aiming to improve animal welfare.
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Mattiello, Battini, De Rosa, Napolitano, and Dwyer. "How Can We Assess Positive Welfare in Ruminants?" Animals 9, no. 10 (October 2, 2019): 758. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9100758.
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Until now, most research has focused on the development of indicators of negative welfare, and relatively few studies provide information on valid, reliable, and feasible indicators addressing positive aspects of animal welfare. However, a lack of suffering does not guarantee that animals are experiencing a positive welfare state. The aim of the present review is to identify promising valid and reliable animal-based indicators for the assessment of positive welfare that might be included in welfare assessment protocols for ruminants, and to discuss them in the light of the five domains model, highlighting possible gaps to be filled by future research. Based on the existing literature in the main databases, each indicator was evaluated in terms of its validity, reliability, and on-farm feasibility. Some valid indicators were identified, but a lot of the validity evidence is based on their absence when a negative situation is present; furthermore, only a few indicators are available in the domains of Nutrition and Health. Reliability has been seldom addressed. On-farm feasibility could be increased by developing specific sampling strategies and/or relying on the use of video- or automatic-recording devices. In conclusion, several indicators are potentially available (e.g., synchronisation of lying and feeding, coat or fleece condition, qualitative behaviour assessment), but further research is required.
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Arndt, Saskia S., Vivian C. Goerlich, and F. Josef van der Staay. "74 The Dynamic Animal Welfare Concept: A Guideline to Assess, Safeguard and Promote Animal Welfare." Journal of Animal Science 101, Supplement_2 (October 28, 2023): 11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad341.012.
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Abstract Theoretical concepts are needed to guide and provide the basis for the appropriate assessment, protection and promotion of animal welfare. Due to its multifaceted nature, animal welfare can be approached from different perspectives, depending on ethical assumptions, human interests and culture. In the past, concepts of animal welfare have evolved from the Five Freedoms, which focused on the absence of negative conditions, to Quality of Life and the Five Domains, which emphasized the presence of positive conditions. We build on the existing theoretical framework and present here the Dynamic Animal Welfare Concept (DAWCon, Arndt et al.2022). Based on the adaptive capacity of the individual animal, DAWCon recognizes the dynamic nature of animal welfare and the importance of positive emotional states. We propose that an individual animal is likely to be in a positive welfare state when it is mentally and physically capable and has the ability and opportunity to respond appropriately to sporadic or persistent appetitive and adverse internal and external stimuli, events and conditions. Appropriate responses are elements of a normal behavioral repertoire of the animal. They enable the animal to cope with and adapt to the demands of the (Prevailing) environmental circumstances and to reach a state that it perceives as positive (i.e., that evokes positive emotions). In addition to presenting our conceptual approach, we will outline the issues that need to be considered when assessing welfare, emphasizing that welfare needs to be monitored over time. Animal behavior is highlighted as a key indicator and the role of normal and natural behavior is discussed. To ensure its welfare, an animal must respond and adapt appropriately to the net effects of appetitive and adverse factors. Examples of such internal and external factors and their potential to have sporadic and lasting welfare consequences are discussed. Reference: Arndt SS, Goerlich VC and van der Staay FJ (2022) A dynamic concept of animal welfare: The role of appetitive and adverse internal and external factors and the animal’s ability to adapt to them. Front. Anim. Sci. 3:908513. doi: 10.3389/fanim.2022.908513
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Martin, Steve, Grey Stafford, and David S. Miller. "A Reexamination of the Relationship between Training Practices and Welfare in the Management of Ambassador Animals." Animals 14, no. 5 (February 27, 2024): 736. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani14050736.
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There is an ethical need to document and develop best practices for meeting ambassador animals’ welfare needs within the context of meeting zoo and aquarium program objectives. This is because ambassador animals experience direct and frequent contact with humans. This paper rigorously synthesizes behavioral research and theory, contemporary practices, and personal experiences to offer key concepts that can be applied to meet ambassador animal welfare needs. These key concepts include addressing an animal’s recognition of choice and control, the use of the most positive and least intrusive effective interventions when training animals to participate in programming, and an overall reduction in aversive strategy use. Our model for increasing ambassador animal welfare focuses on seven main areas of concern, including the following: choosing the most suitable animal for the program; choosing the human with the right skills and knowledge for the program; using the most positive, least intrusive, effective training methods; developing a strong trusting relationship between trainer and animal; developing a comprehensive enrichment program; the need for institutional support; and creating opportunities for animals to practice species-appropriate behaviors. Our model will provide guidelines for improved ambassador animal welfare that can be refined with future research.
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Anderson, Nichole C. "75 Deep Dive Into Animal Welfare Measurements in Swine and Their Implications." Journal of Animal Science 101, Supplement_2 (October 28, 2023): 10–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad341.011.
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Abstract Historically, animals growing well were believed to be in a positive welfare state. Evidence shows that pigs will seek out enrichment using play and complex puzzle-solving, which is beyond the physical needs required for positive growth. Physiological and psychological indicators of welfare can now be used to address positive affect in swine. Further, early research may show that those animals living with enrichment may be less likely to fall ill and are better prepared to handle sudden life changes (such as transport). However, measuring animal pleasure successfully is difficult. Understanding ways to measure animal welfare using behavior and physiology can provide insight into validating positive affective states beyond historically used measurements such as average daily gain, reproductive performance, or cortisol. As opportunities to implement these measures grow in the future, understanding the appropriate use for each will be critical.
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Wigham, EE, A. Grist, S. Mullan, S. Wotton, and A. Butterworth. "Gender and job characteristics of slaughter industry personnel influence their attitudes to animal welfare." Animal Welfare 29, no. 3 (August 1, 2020): 313–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.7120/09627286.29.3.313.
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The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of the attitudes that those involved in the slaughter industry have towards animal welfare and animal welfare aspects of their work, and also to investigate if gender or characteristics of employment (eg previous training, role and experience) influence such views. A paper questionnaire consisting of 20 Likert items regarding either animal welfare or working in the slaughter industry and seven questions designed to gather information on participant gender and job characteristics was distributed to attendees at eleven Animal Welfare Officer (AWO) and Poultry Welfare Officer (PWO) courses run by the University of Bristol. Responses were received from 215 personnel involved in the slaughter industry. It was found that the views of the majority of the respondents towards animal welfare were positive. Being female, working routinely with mammals, having a longer period of time working in the industry, and having previous AWO/PWO training course experience were all associated with significantly more positive attitudes towards animals and working in the slaughter industry; while working with birds, and working in an enforcement or stockperson role had a significant negative influence on the response to some animal welfare- and employment-related statements. Although it should be considered that individuals attending an animal welfare course may already have an interest in animal welfare, the results suggest that gender and employment factors do influence attitudes to animal welfare in the slaughter industry, and that the origins and reasons for development of certain negative views warrant further investigation.
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Fernandez, Eduardo J., and Samantha J. Chiew. "Animal-Visitor Interactions: Effects, Experiences, and Welfare." Animal Behavior and Cognition 8, no. 4 (November 1, 2021): 462–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.26451/abc.08.04.01.2021.
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Animal-Visitor Interactions (AVI) within zoos and aquariums have become an increasingly studied topic. Influenced by both the broader field of Human-Animal Interactions (HAI), as well as visitor studies conducted in museums, AVI studies can be separated into two areas of focus: (1) Visitor effects, or the impact visitors have on the animals housed within a zoo, and (2) visitor experiences, or the impact zoo animals and visiting a zoo have on the visitors. Historically, visitor effects have been of primary concern to the study of AVIs, as have the potential negative impacts on the welfare of animals, particularly those of zoo primates. This special issue examines the impact of AVIs in greater detail through twelve recent papers on the topic, equally addressing visitor effects and experiences. Many of the papers focus on positive welfare indices, as well as less traditional measures to examine both visitor effects and experiences, such as visitor proximity and visitor interviews. In addition, we discuss the relevance of future AVI work, with particular attention to (a) increased interest in visitor experience research, (b) examinations of signage effects, and (c) continued focus on positive welfare indices and direct interactions, such as public feedings.
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Mellor, DJ. "Positive animal welfare states and encouraging environment-focused and animal-to-animal interactive behaviours." New Zealand Veterinary Journal 63, no. 1 (October 9, 2014): 9–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2014.926800.
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Miller, Lance J., Lisa K. Lauderdale, Jill D. Mellen, Michael T. Walsh, and Douglas A. Granger. "Relationships between animal management and habitat characteristics with two potential indicators of welfare for bottlenose dolphins under professional care." PLOS ONE 16, no. 8 (August 30, 2021): e0252861. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252861.
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Accredited zoos and aquariums continually strive to ensure high levels of animal welfare for the animals under their professional care. Best management practices include conducting research to better understand factors that lead to optimal welfare and then turning findings into practice. The current study is part of the larger Cetacean Welfare Study or more formally, “Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums.” Facilities participating in the study were accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and/or the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Animal management factors and habitat characteristics were examined in relation to two potential indicators of welfare for common (Tursiops truncatus) and Indo-Pacific (Tursiops aduncus) bottlenose dolphins. Specifically, we examined environmental enrichment, animal training, and habitat characteristics that were significantly related to behavioral diversity and route tracing, a form of stereotypic behavior. Behavior was recorded from 47 animals at 25 facilities around the world. Overall, the rate of route tracing behavior observed during the study was very low and few animal management factors or habitat characteristics were found to be related to this behavior. One factor, enrichment diversity, had a significant positive relationship with route tracing and an inverse relationship with behavioral diversity. This finding may be a product of a response mounted by animal care specialists to the behavior as opposed to a cause. Animals that engaged in this behavior were likely provided more diverse enrichment in attempts to ameliorate the stereotypic behavior. However, multiple factors were found to significantly relate to behavioral diversity, a potential positive indicator of welfare for bottlenose dolphins. Dolphins that were trained on a predictable schedule had higher behavioral diversity than those on a semi-predictable schedule. There was a positive significant relationship between behavioral diversity and the number of habitats to which an animal had access, and a significant inverse relationship with the maximum depth of the habitat. Finally, animals that were split into groups and reunited or rotated between subgroups had higher behavioral diversity than animals managed in the same group. Information gained from the current study suggested that animal management techniques may be more important in ensuring good welfare for bottlenose dolphins than focusing on habitat size.
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Phillips, Clive. "Animal welfare: A construct of positive and negative affect?" Veterinary Journal 175, no. 3 (March 2008): 291–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.05.015.
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Vinke, C. M. "Some Comments on the Review of Nimon and Broom on the Welfare of Farmed Mink." Animal Welfare 10, no. 3 (August 2001): 315–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0962728600024088.
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AbstractFur-farming is a politically sensitive issue today. Therefore, discussions on the welfare situation of commercially farmed fur animals may be particularly valuable. The aim of this Short Communication is to address some issues, in addition to those covered in the review of Nimon and Broom on the welfare of farmed mink (Animal Welfare 1999, 8: 205-228), that may have received too little attention. This Short Communication addresses domestication and animal welfare, indispensable resources and behaviours of farmed mink, and the use of negative and positive indicators of welfare in research on farmed mink.
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Sherwen, Sally L., and Paul H. Hemsworth. "The Visitor Effect on Zoo Animals: Implications and Opportunities for Zoo Animal Welfare." Animals 9, no. 6 (June 17, 2019): 366. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9060366.
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Achieving and maintaining high standards of animal welfare is critical to the success of a modern zoo. Research has shown that an animal’s welfare is highly dependent on how various individual animal factors (e.g., species traits, genetics, temperament and previous experience) interact with environmental features (e.g., social grouping, enclosure design and sensory environment). One prominent feature of the zoo environment is the presence of visitors. Visitor contact can be unpredictable and intense, particularly in terms of auditory and visual interaction. Depending on an animal’s perception of this interaction, visitors can have either negative, neutral or positive impacts on zoo animal behaviour and welfare. This paper reviews the literature on the implications and potential opportunities of human-zoo animal interactions on animal behaviour and welfare, with the aim of stimulating interest, understanding and exploration of this important subject. The literature to date presents a mixed range of findings on the topic. It is possible this variation in the responses of zoo animals to visitors may be due to species-specific differences, the nature and intensity of the visitor interactions, enclosure design, and individual animal characteristics. Analysing these studies and better understanding animal preferences and motivations can provide insight into what animals find negatively and positively reinforcing in terms of visitor contact in a specific zoo setting. This understanding can then be applied to either safeguard welfare in cases where visitors can have a negative impact, or, conversely, it can be applied to highlight opportunities to encourage animal-visitor interaction in situations where animals experience positive emotions associated with visitor interaction.
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Hubbard, C., and K. Scott. "Do farmers and scientists differ in their understanding and assessment of farm animal welfare?" Animal Welfare 20, no. 1 (February 2011): 79–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0962728600002451.
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AbstractIn response to an increased public awareness regarding how livestock are reared, animal welfare scientists have attempted to develop new methods of welfare assessment at the farm level. Furthermore, in recent years they have increasingly moved away from the conventional approach of evaluating the provision of resources necessary to ensure good welfare, and have instead focused on the use of animal-based measures of welfare. In contrast, it is believed that farmers use mostly resource-based and management-based measures (eg the provision of food, water and housing) when assessing the welfare of their animals. They also seem to be driven more by economic and financial concerns than by the welfare of the animals per se, when it comes to the provision of animal welfare. Different approaches to the definition and assessment of farm animal welfare were explored in work carried out at Newcastle University as part of the Welfare Quality® project by both social and welfare scientists. Social scientists explored farmers’ perceptions and understanding of animal welfare, whilst welfare scientists developed animal-based measures of welfare for use in a prototype on-farm welfare monitoring system. Based on two separate surveys, this paper focuses on UK farmers’ perception and understanding of animal welfare and their criteria of assessment in contrast with those employed by welfare scientists, using a specific case study of pigs. Results show that, despite scientists being unaware of the findings from the farmer survey, they produced a set of measures to assess welfare which were very similar to those used by farmers. However, ‘instinctive’ terms used by farmers to describe (positive or negative) animal behaviour did not bear any relation to more objective welfare measures. Compared with conventional monitoring systems which focus more on the provision of resources to promote good welfare than on the animal itself, the prototype monitoring system may be more acceptable to farmers given that it uses similar animal-based measures to assess welfare to those they use themselves, and furthermore, the focus is on the animal.
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Clarkson, Jasmine M., Matthew C. Leach, Paul A. Flecknell, and Candy Rowe. "Negative mood affects the expression of negative but not positive emotions in mice." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 287, no. 1933 (August 26, 2020): 20201636. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.1636.
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Whether and to what extent animals experience emotions is crucial for understanding their decisions and behaviour, and underpins a range of scientific fields, including animal behaviour, neuroscience, evolutionary biology and animal welfare science. However, research has predominantly focused on alleviating negative emotions in animals, with the expression of positive emotions left largely unexplored. Therefore, little is known about positive emotions in animals and how their expression is mediated. We used tail handling to induce a negative mood in laboratory mice and found that while being more anxious and depressed increased their expression of a discrete negative emotion (disappointment), meaning that they were less resilient to negative events, their capacity to express a discrete positive emotion (elation) was unaffected relative to control mice. Therefore, we show not only that mice have discrete positive emotions, but that they do so regardless of their current mood state. Our findings are the first to suggest that the expression of discrete positive and negative emotions in animals is not equally affected by long-term mood state. Our results also demonstrate that repeated negative events can have a cumulative effect to reduce resilience in laboratory animals, which has significant implications for animal welfare.
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Ventura, Giulia, Valentina Lorenzi, Francesca Mazza, Gianfilippo Alessio Clemente, Claudia Iacomino, Luigi Bertocchi, and Francesca Fusi. "Best Farming Practices for the Welfare of Dairy Cows, Heifers and Calves." Animals 11, no. 9 (September 9, 2021): 2645. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11092645.
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The concept of animal welfare (AW) has many meanings. Traditionally, AW has been considered as freedom from disease and suffering. Nowadays, growing attention goes to the concept of “positive animal welfare” (PAW), which can be interpreted within the concept of quality of life (QoL), thinking about a “balance of positives over negatives” and a “life worth living”. In this vision, where the QoL represents a continuum between positives and negatives, the Italian National Reference Centre for Animal Welfare (CReNBA), within the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), has developed a welfare assessment protocol for dairy cows, heifers, and calves in loose housing systems, including both animal-based and non-animal-based indicators, in which not only hazards but also benefits are identified. This protocol is part of an integrated monitoring system called “ClassyFarm”, belonging to the Italian Ministry of Health and developed by IZSLER. The aim of this paper is to extrapolate from the mentioned protocol, a list of 38 best farming practices (on managerial and equipment factors) for ensuring a high level of welfare in dairy cattle. All stakeholders (veterinarians, farmers, competent authorities, consumers, etc.) can benefit of these best practices as a guide or toolbox to ensure a life worth living for these animals.
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Willis, Renee S., Emma J. Dunston-Clarke, Leah R. Keating, Patricia A. Fleming, and Teresa Collins. "Australian Livestock Export Industry Workers’ Attitudes toward Animal Welfare." Animals 11, no. 5 (May 14, 2021): 1411. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11051411.
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Understanding live export industry workers’ attitudes and beliefs toward animal welfare can provide insight into their decision-making processes and likely behavior. Industry workers (n = 265) with various roles within the supply chain were surveyed from different global regions. Participants were divided into ten categories according to their industry roles and compared using ordinal regression. Respondents were highly likely to have a positive attitude toward animal welfare; the majority of workers enjoyed working with livestock (95.8%) and agreed that livestock should be treated with respect (97.7%). Workers demonstrated a strong understanding of animal welfare concepts, 168 respondents (63.4%) provided examples of ways they had improved animal welfare in their workplace, and 164 workers (61.9%) suggested ways that animal welfare could be improved further. Most workers (95.8%) agreed that animal welfare was satisfactory in their workplace. Five out of the 24 multiple-choice responses differed significantly by the participant’s industry role, but no particular group displayed consistently divergent beliefs or attitudes. Given the community concern regarding animals in the livestock export supply chain, it is imperative to understand the attitudes of industry personnel who are responsible for the daily management of the animals. This knowledge assists in the development of animal welfare policy and can inform strategies to manage public perception.
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Mullan, S., SA Edwards, A. Butterworth, HR Whay, and DCJ Main. "A pilot investigation of possible positive system descriptors in finishing pigs." Animal Welfare 20, no. 3 (August 2011): 439–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0962728600003006.
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AbstractIn this study, pig producers were identified whose practices exceeded the basic legal requirements and government recommendations for pig welfare. This novel approach was part of a larger project investigating the feasibility and benefits of the inclusion of some animal-based welfare outcome measures into the main UK pig-farm assurance schemes. A set of pig-keeping-system descriptor scores were devised through consultation with stakeholders, whereby a finishing pig farm would be classified on a scale of 1 (legislation compliance) to 5 (highest level of welfare provision) for six different elements of pig husbandry which can influence pig welfare (environmental enrichment, foraging behaviour, thermal comfort, physical comfort, tail docking and floor space provision). Animal-based observations were used to assess the welfare of a sample of between 67 and 220 pigs on 15 UK finishing pig farms, which were also classified according to the system descriptors. Scores achieved when assessing the environmental enrichment and physical comfort elements were significantly positively correlated with a qualitative assessment of good mood of the pigs and a measure of their oral manipulation and significantly negatively correlated with the prevalence of tail lesions and swollen bursae. However, there were wide variations in the prevalence of animal-based welfare outcome measures between farms with the same system descriptor score. These system descriptors are therefore not sufficient to be used alone to provide assurances on welfare. It is suggested that a combined approach of system descriptors and animal-based welfare outcome measures may be useful for providing assurances on higher levels of welfare.
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Robbins, JA, JA Danielson, AK Johnson, RL Parsons, MW Jorgensen, and ST Millman. "Attitudes towards animals and belief in animal mind among first-year veterinary students before and after an introductory animal welfare course." Animal Welfare 30, no. 4 (November 30, 2021): 409–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.7120/09627286.30.4.004.
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Veterinarians are increasingly looked to for guidance on matters relating to animal welfare, yet little is known about US veterinary students' attitudes and beliefs about animals. In 2019, we surveyed all first-year veterinary students at a major US veterinary college (n = 123) before and after taking a required one-credit introductory animal welfare course. Attitudes were measured using the Pests, Pets and Profit (PPP) scale and belief in animal mind (BAM) was measured using an ad hoc measure adapted from previous work. Pre- and post-course comparisons indicated the introductory animal welfare course had no immediate effect on veterinary students' attitudes or BAM. Veterinary students' attitudes were most positive for animals considered pets, followed by pests and those used for profit. Students believed most species possess a wide variety of mental capacities, including many secondary emotions often considered uniquely human (eg guilt, embarrassment, jealousy). Sociodemographic variables consistently associated with more positive attitudes towards animals were: female gender, vegetarianism and liberal political ideology. Preferring a career involving large or food animal practice was consistently associated with less positive attitudes towards animals. Belief in animal mind explained 3% of the variation in attitude scores, whereas sociodemographic variables explained 49% of variation in attitude scores. Female gender, vegetarianism and preferring small (vs large or food animal practice) were all associated with greater BAM scores. Understanding veterinary student attitudes towards animals and beliefs about the mental capacities of animals is important when evaluating a veterinarian's ability to adhere to their oath.
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Hansen, Mark F., Emma M. Baxter, Kenneth M. D. Rutherford, Agnieszka Futro, Melvyn L. Smith, and Lyndon N. Smith. "Towards Facial Expression Recognition for On-Farm Welfare Assessment in Pigs." Agriculture 11, no. 9 (September 4, 2021): 847. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11090847.
Full textAbstract:
Animal welfare is not only an ethically important consideration in good animal husbandry but can also have a significant effect on an animal’s productivity. The aim of this paper was to show that a reduction in animal welfare, in the form of increased stress, can be identified in pigs from frontal images of the animals. We trained a convolutional neural network (CNN) using a leave-one-out design and showed that it is able to discriminate between stressed and unstressed pigs with an accuracy of >90% in unseen animals. Grad-CAM was used to identify the animal regions used, and these supported those used in manual assessments such as the Pig Grimace Scale. This innovative work paves the way for further work examining both positive and negative welfare states with the aim of developing an automated system that can be used in precision livestock farming to improve animal welfare.
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Ward, Samantha J., Ellen Williams, Georgina Groves, Simon Marsh, and David Morgan. "Using Zoo Welfare Assessments to Identify Common Issues in Developing Country Zoos." Animals 10, no. 11 (November 12, 2020): 2101. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani10112101.
Full textAbstract:
Zoo animal welfare is a high priority for many institutions worldwide, with modern zoos now ensuring that animals are housed and cared for to the highest standards. However, in countries where this knowledge is not as available or understood, standards may be lower. The aim of this research was to investigate if there were common zoo welfare concerns across developing country zoos. Wild Welfare is a charity working globally to improve welfare for zoo animals and has an independent welfare audit that is carried out before any intervention occurs. The Wild Welfare Audit, consisting of 110 questions, covering nine topics, was completed at 11 zoos in seven developing countries (Brazil, Egypt, Libya, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam) following a Likert scale score (1–3). A principal component analysis was also performed to evaluate the audit questions. The results suggest that common areas of concern were animal behaviour, positive animal mental states and human health and safety. These themes were likely due to the lack knowledge and understanding that may be linked to historical and cultural differences. This research has helped to revise the welfare audit as well as inform future intervention strategies for improving developing country zoo animal welfare.