PART 2: Lecture 2: Assesment Of Animal Welfare

Question 1

Five Domains Model

Answer 1

Mellor et al., 2020:

1. Nutrition: water + food deprivation. Malnutrition. (DONE)
2. Environment: physical + atmospheric challenge. (DONE)
3. Health: disease, injury, functional impairment.
4. Behaviour: behavioural and/or interactive movement restrictions.
5. Mental domain: thirst, hunger, anxiety, fear, pain, distress. (DONE)

= WELFARE STATE

Question 2

Health and disease

Answer 2

• poor conditions = greater risk of disease.
• many diseases common to humans & animals + often share clinical & pathological responses.
• illness can be accompanied by inappetence, thirst, fever, nausea, fatigue, fear, distress.
• physical impairments due to disease (e.g. reduced mobility, reduced function of body systems) can make animal susceptible to other welfare issues
• infectious diseases (viral, bacterial, parasitic) cause suffering; some only exert effects when pathogen interacts with predisposing factors e.g. genetics, age, nutrition, environment or management.

Question 3

Health and disease

Answer 3

Genetic selection
- (intentionally choosing certain traits/characteristics in breeding)
- to control conformation (physical structure e.g. bone structure) e.g. for improved performance traits (e.g. growth rate), but may lead to health issues & loss of genetic diversity (making popualtion more susceptible to disease + environmental changes).
- & for maximum productivity (e.g. milk output, egg number, growth).

Question 4

Health and disease

Answer 4

Keeping large numbers of animals:
- requires attention to disease control, health plan, record keeping, bio security, appropriate preventive measures (e.g. vaccination, prophylactic medicines, parasiticides, appropriate diet & environment)
- professional competence (e.g. knowledge, skills, experience) for regular inspection & careful observation for signs of ill health
- ill / injured animals must be cared for appropriately without delay; veterinary advice for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, measures to reduce suffering & prevent disease

Question 5

Behaviour

Answer 5

• as a guide to animal health & welfare
• key role in study of animal welfare
• observation of natural behaviour / comparisons of free-living & captive animals
• ‘Ethogram’ = catalogue of behaviours
• variation under different circumstances (does not necessarily imply good/bad welfare).
• changes/suppression in behaviour may provide cues about welfare
• behavioural indicators of affective states (negative: fear, pain; positive: pleasure, happiness); cognitive biases

Question 6

Abnormal behaviour

Answer 6

• captive animals may perform behaviour/sequences of behaviour dif from free-living animals (e.g. form, intensity, orientation of behaviour)
• Stereotypic behaviour (= repetitive, invariant patterns without obvious goal/function) is associated with signs of poor welfare

Question 7

Behaviour

Answer 7

Automated behavioural assessment

• Accelerometers : detects changes in motion, velocity & tilt. Insights into activity & movement, foraging, sleep, reproductive behaviour, social interactions, migration.
• Global Positioning Systems (GPS) : track movement & spatial behaviour, precise location (e.g. home & territory range, habitat use, foraging ecology,
• Motion sensors (e.g. passive infrared sensors) : movement & activity, circadian rhythm & response to environmental stimuli.
• Infrared thermography (IFTA) : non-invasive, measures infrared radiation emitted by animal, can detect stress & emotional state (through changes in skin temp), sleep, locomotion.
• Sound & image analysis

Question 8

Physiology - Stress