Welfare

Question 1

What are the 4 ethical principles?

Answer 1

Beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, justice

Question 2

What are the stakeholders in animal welfare?

Answer 2

Animals, farmers, vets, government, assurance body, animal welfare charity, consumers

Question 3

What are some animal welfare offences?

Answer 3

• Mutilation – prohibited procedures involves interference with sensitive tissues or bone structure of the animals, other than medical treatment.
• Docking of tails
• Administration of poisons
• Animal fighting

Question 4

What does the welfare of farmed animals regulations 2007 have stimulations around?

Answer 4

Staffing, inspection, record keeping
Freedom of movement
Buildings, accommodation and environment
Automatic equipment, feed and water
Breeding procedures
Electronic immobilisation

Question 5

Why do we assess welfare?

Answer 5

• Prioritise veterinary input
• Management tool (health planning)
• Encourage implementation of good practice
• Compliance with farm assurance schemes
• Compliance with legislation
• Research

Question 6

What are the inputs of animal welfare assessment?

Answer 6

Welfare factors, resources, provisions: training, housing, diet, breeding

Question 7

What are the output of animal welfare assessment?

Answer 7

Performance indicators, animal based measures: physical observation, behaviours

Question 8

For an example free range housing unit, what are the inputs of animal welfare assessment?

Answer 8

• Stock keeper – training, knowledge, awareness
• Environment – design, maintenance, facilities
• Animal – breed
• Environmental ones often the easiest to spot
• Space and facilities

Question 9

For an example of free range housing unit, what are the outputs of of animal welfare assessment?

Answer 9

• Physical condition – plumage damage, disease
• Behaviour injurious pecking, fearful/flightiness, comfort and playing behaviours
• Records – production, treatments, disease, mortality
• Performance – compare to breed standards for growth and performance
• Health and behaviour
• Record disease and mortality
• Record behaviour such as injurious pecking

Question 10

How does welfare assessment tell us about the scale of a welfare problem?

Answer 10

Severity
Number of animals affected
Duration

Question 11

What can including welfare assessment in assurance schemes improve?

Answer 11

• Scheme standards
• Farm management
• Animal welfare
• Farm productivity and profitability
• Consumer assurance