Introduction to animal welfare Flashcards
What is animal welfare?
animal welfare is a state within an animal (not something given to it)
What characteristics must the animal have to have animal welfare?
the animal must be phylogenetically and developmentally sentient; i.e it must have a brain with sufficient functional sophistication to transduce impulses in sensory and other nerves into experienced sensations
How can animal welfare be increased?
rather than reducing negative, increase positive experiences
What are the three animal welfare concepts?
- physical status (function,fitness)
- mental status (feelings)
- naturalness (telos)
What are the five freedoms?
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from pain, injury and disease
- Freedom to express normal behaviour
- Freedom from fear and distress
What is a need?
a requirement, fundamental in the biology of the animal, to obtain a particular resource or respond to a particular environmental or bodily stimulus
Explain the hierarchy or needs:
- provision of food and water is a fundamental need
- provision of a comfortable lying area may be less fundamental
life-sustaining > health-sustaining > comfort-sustaining
Who uses animal welfare science?
- legislators
- producers/industry
- animal protection societies
- other scientists & vets
- public
Welfare science considers…
effects on the animal from the animal’s point of view
Welfare ethics considers…
human actions towards animals
Welfare legislation considers…
how humans must treat animals
