2 - Introduction to Welfare Assessment

Question 1

Give the five freedoms.

Answer 1

a. freedom from hunger and thirst
b. freedom from discomfort
c. freedom from suffering, pain, and disease
d. freedom to express normal behavior
e. freedom from fear and distress

Question 2

Who proposed the Five Freedoms and in what year?

Answer 2

UK’s Farm Animal Welfare Council in 1992

Question 3

steady internal state that is necessary for the basic processes of life

Answer 3

Homeostasis

Question 4

it is a state of stability that is achieved through change

Answer 4

Allostasis

Question 5

Briefly explain the concept of stability through change.

Answer 5

Since the brain is capable of storing information such as memory, it can evaluate sensory input to its existing information thus animals can react immediately in the future. It can be a life cycle such as pregnancy, or a complete new experience like a cow milking by a machine. Without exception, animals have repertoire of physiological as well as behavioral adaptations that enable them to survive in an environment.

Question 6

These play a central role in ‘driving’ adaptive changes in physiology and behaviour.

Answer 6

brain, memory, and emotion

Question 7

Briefly explain how the brain evaluates sensory input.

Answer 7

If an animal see something, is it familiar or not? Then if it is familiar, is it associated with anything threatening, painful, or pleasant?

Question 8

Since there is no easy way to measure the emotions and feelings of animals for welfare assessment, what else can we do? Explain briefly.

Answer 8

The brain’s evaluation to the sensory input give rise to emotions such as happiness and fear and to physical as well, for example nausea, excitement, or pain. The animal’s body responds to these feelings both physiologically and behaviorally such as increased heart rate, urinating, and vomiting. Since we can’t evaluate their emotions, we can observe and measure their responses for welfare assessment.

Question 9

events and resources which give rise to sensory input

Answer 9

welfare inputs or resource-based measures

Question 10

animal’s responses to the input

Answer 10

welfare outputs or outcome-based measure

Question 11

the resources that are available to the animal

Answer 11

Welfare input

Question 12

Give the three main categories of Welfare Input

Answer 12

a. Management/Stockperson
b. Environment Resources
c. Animal Resources

Question 13

the animal’s genetic makeup and early experience, which affects disease resistance, fear thresholds

Answer 13

Animal Resources

Question 14

the kind of housing; the quality and amount of the animals’ food; the use of vaccines, anthelmintics

Answer 14

Environment Resources

Question 15

how well trained the stockperson is; how much time he or she has to care for the animals

Answer 15

management/stockperson resources

Question 16

Give the three main categories of welfare output.

Answer 16

a. Measure of disease and of production
b. Measure of behaviour
c. Measure of physiology

Question 17

the amount of time a cow spends lying down, or the presence of stereotypic behaviour

Answer 17

Measure of behavior

Question 18

(e.g. heart rate)

Answer 18

Measure of physiology

Question 19

(e.g. lameness, coughing and other clinical signs); (body weight; milk production)

Answer 19

Measure of disease and of production

Question 20

Example of Output of Freedom for Hunger and Thirst

Answer 20

body weight; body condition score; evidence of dehydration on the skin pinch test

Question 21

Output of Freedom from Discomfort

Answer 21

pressure sores on the skin

Question 22

signs of injury from fighting; abnormal behaviours

Answer 22

Output of Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour

Question 23

sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind

Answer 23

Inputs of Freedom to Express Normal Behavior

Question 24

How should you estimate each freedom?

Answer 24

a. the percentage of animals affected
b. how badly they are affected
c. how long that compromise has being going on for

Question 25

what will be the output of ready access to fresh water, and a diet that maintains full health and vigour, e.g. how often stockperson delivers feed

Answer 25

body weight, body condition score, evidence of dehydration in skin pinch test

Question 25

output of an appropriate environment, including shelter and a comfortable resting area

Answer 25

pressures sores on the skin

Question 25

conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering

Answer 25

inputs

Question 26

the animal’s environment is such that the animal has largely negative experiences and constant suffering so that his/her life is not worth living

Answer 26

Poor welfare

Question 27

refers to behavioural tests

Answer 27

outputs

Question 28

For each freedom, you would estimate?

Answer 28

1. the percentage of animals affected
2. how badly they are affected
3. how long that compromise has being going on for.