welfare

Question 1

what is welfare?

Answer 1

Different scientific definitions
Concerned with sentience and suffering
Science, ethics, and law plays key roles

Question 2

5 needs (RSPCA)

Answer 2

• access to fresh water and a suitable diet
• adequate shelter and somewhere comfortable to rest
• access to vet treatment + steps to prevent pain, injury etc
• company of other animals and enough space so they behave naturally
• kept in conditions that means they will not suffer,and treated in a way t not distress or frighten them

Question 3

What are the 5 freedoms?

Answer 3

Freedom from hunger and thirst
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury and disease
Freedom to express normal behaviour
Freedom from fear and distress

Question 4

what are the 5 domains? (mellor)

Answer 4

• nutrition
• environment
• health
• behaviour
• mental state

Question 5

sentience

Answer 5

• the capacity to experience suffering and pleasure
• implies conscious awareness

Question 6

what does UK FAWC 2009 say?

Answer 6

• an adequate life
• a life worth living
• a good life

Question 7

welfare continuum

Answer 7

Poor welfare = life not worth living
Adequate welfare = life worth living, minimal suffering
Good welfare = good life

Question 8

main aspects of welfare

Answer 8

Physical = good health & productivity
Physiological = absence of pain
Psychological = able to perform natural behaviour

Question 9

welfare and death

Answer 9

• Length of life is not connected to welfare
• Method of death IS a welfare issue

Question 10

laws on animal use?

Answer 10

• Animal welfare act 2006
• Animal health act 1981
• Wildlife and countryside act 1981

Question 11

Sections of animal welfare act

Answer 11

• Section 4 = criminal offence to cause unnecessary suffering, applies to commonly domesticated vertebrates
• Section 9 = duty of care for responsible person, includes by omission

Question 12

historical development

Answer 12

• aninaml welfare legislaion has evolved over centuries
• influenced by cultural views
• international variations

Question 13

Historical views

Answer 13

• descartes 1600’s: greatest prejudices is believing that the beasts think
• Kant 1970’s: animal cruelty suppresses sympathy and reduces morality
• jeremy Bentham 1948-1832: “ the quesio is not, can they reason? nor can they talk? but, can they suffer?”

Question 14

Societal issues impacting welfare

Answer 14

• Industrial revolution caused social upheaval
• Literature of the time anthropomorphised animals
• movement to towns away from countryside
• animals became companions rather than dinner
• increasing concerns for animals welfare

Question 15

International organisations

Answer 15

• world organisation for animal health (OIE)
• Food and agriculture organisation (FAO)
• one health initiative

Question 16

What are differences in the purposes of animal welfare laws?

Answer 16

Differences in purpose:

Protecting species/the environment
Improving animal welfare
Banning activities
Improving public health
Prohibiting cruelty
Improving animal health
Controlling methods of production

Question 17

why legislation may not be effective

Answer 17

• legal status of animals as property
• strict liability offence or intent needed
• excemption: religion and culture
• accepted practice
• wording
• lack of enforcement

Question 18

what is an ideal welfare law?

Answer 18

Applies to all sentient animals
Clearly written
Offences include failing to meet an animal’s needs
Easy to amend in line with new scientific knowledge, ethics, etc.
High legal status, allowing for prosecutions
Enforcement responsibility is clear
Enforcement body has sufficient power and funds
Includes education of public and industry

Question 19

Is the vet’s responsibility to the client or the animal?

Answer 19

• The vet’s responsibility is to the animal
• RCVS oath “…my constant endeavour will be to ensure the welfare of animals committed to my care…” - vets responsibility is to the animal
• Vet as an independent expert witness

Question 20

ways to improve animal welfare

Answer 20

• financial incentives for producers
• public education
• research to inform government policy
• lobbying/political connection

Question 21

role of vet in animal welfare

Answer 21

• Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease
• Assessing welfare in abattoirs and farms, and advising owners and officials
  i Identifying deliberate animal cruelty
• Implementing humane endpoints in lab animal research
• Pain management
• Ethical decision-making
• Communicating with owners, officials, etc.
• Veterinary professional bodies

Question 22

poor welfare cycle

Answer 22

Poor housing/environment leads to:
Little interaction with staff leads to:
Poor temperment leads to:
Little motivation for staff to interact leads to:
Abnormal behaviours leads to:
Poor welfare

Question 23

refinement loop

Answer 23

Critical evaluation of well being and science leads to:
Recognition of pain and poor welfare leads to:
Diagnosis of problem leads to:
Selection of improvement strategies leads to:
Implementation of good practice

Question 24

What 6 factors may affect the normal animal’s behaviour?

Answer 24

Species

Breed

Age and size range

Environment

Group size/interaction

Dominance hierarchy

Question 25

List 4 behavioural indicators of poor welfare

Answer 25

Limited range of activity

Abnormal fear/aggression towards humans

Fighting

Stereotypies

Question 26

What information from routine colony management can be used as measures of animal welfare?

Answer 26

Longevity

Growth rates

Susceptibility to disease

Productivity

Infant care

Wound healing

Coat and BCS

Body shape/posture

Question 27

What information requiring assessment of behavioural repertoire and activity budgets can be used as a measure of animal welfare?

Answer 27

Grooming

Sleeping

Play

Social behaviours

Facial expressions

Vocalisations

Question 28

What information requiring instrumentation can be used as a measure of animal welfare?

Answer 28

Heart rate

Blood pressure

Body temperature

Blood temperature

Serum levels of stress hormones

Immunological functions

Question 29

List 9 acute pain behaviours

Answer 29

Posture e.g. hunching

Gait e.g. lameness or kneeling step

Demeanour/reduced responsiveness

Inappetence

Increased respiratory/heart rate

Grinding teeth

Response to palpation

Ultrasonic vocalisations

Check response to analgesia

Question 30

List 5 chronic pain behaviours

Answer 30

Altered demeanour e.g. social withdrawal, irritation, aggression

Altered gait e.g. lameness

Weight loss

Response to palpation

Response to analgesia

Question 31

Which 2 behaviours does lack of environmental stimulation cause?

Answer 31

Frustration leading to abnormal behaviours e.g. stereotypies

Non-specific boredom e.g. passivity and stereotypies

Question 32

Why are welfare assessments carried out?

Answer 32

To assess responses to treatments or environmental changes

For academic interest, society, ethics or PR

Question 33

What should be assessed during a welfare assessment?

Answer 33

Physical state e.g. weight and BCS

Physiological/biochemical state e.g. autonomic responses, HPA axis hormones and immune system

Psychological state e.g. behaioural state

Question 34

What is the outcome of assessing welfare?

Answer 34

outcome of assessing welfare?

Allows feedback on changes affecting animal welfare

Allows communication about animal welfare between team caring for animals and public etc.

Should be prospective, ongoing and retrospective

Should account for justification of methodology of treatments/housing/care etc.

If sub-optimal welfare is identified, find the cause, identify a solution and take action

Question 35

How could action be taken after assessing welfare?

Answer 35

Do nothing and justify why

Improve welfare and keep monitoring to demonstrate improvement