Welfare Flashcards
What is the definition of welfare?
Welfare defines the state of an animal as it attempts to cope with it environment
What is the animal welfare act 2006
It is a law that makes it an offence to cause unnecessary harm to any animal, it also places a duty of care to animals which means anyone who owns an animal has to take necessary steps in order to make sure the animals needs are met
What are the five animal needs
Suitable diet
Suitable environment
Ability to express normal behaviours
To be homed with or without other animals
Protection from illness disease and violence
Welfare considerations
Diet Exercise Social structures Stimulation Housing Substrate Veterinary attention Disease transmission Susceptibility to injury
What does suitable diet mean?
Ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour depending on the species, life stage and whether they are working or for production
What does suitable environment mean?
Providing an appropriate environment including shelter, security and a comfortable resting area
What does it mean to be protected from pain injury and suffering?
By ensuring conditions and treatments which avoid mental suffering and encourage quality of life and good wellbeing
What does it mean to exhibit normal behaviours?
This can be done by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and replicate social groups
What does it mean to be housed or without others?
This means whether they should live with another animal, it depends on species and individual needs
What does morals mean?
Based on an individuals conscience, personal belief or right or wrong, rather than a set of rules or what the law states should be done
What are ethics?
A system of moral standards, governing the appropriate conduct for a person or group
What is evolution?
Evolution is a gradual process by which present diversity of animals life arose from the earliest and most primitive organisms
Or
Evolution is the change in inherited characteristics of a population from generation to generation
Who is Charles Darwin?
He was an English naturalist who was born in 1809, he was primarily a geologist. He is the founder of the idea of evolution . He went on the five year voyage on the HMS beagle
Where did the voyage path include?
South America Falkland Islands Galapagos New Zealand Australia Mauritius South Africa Azores
What did Charles Darwin do?
Darwin collected a variety of specimens from different countries to prove the diversity of life.
Darwin proposed and provided evidence that all species of life have evolved over time from a single or few common ancestors through the process of natural selection
What book did Charles Darwin write?
On The Origin Of species 1859
What is natural selection?
This is the idea that species pass on favourable characteristic to their offspring which promote survival and increase reproduction, unfavourable characteristics will die out. It is the idea of survival of the fittest
What is the moth example of natural selection?
During the industrial revolution the trees turned black due to the burning of coal this means that the black peppered moths could rest on the tree trunks and blend in however the white moths would stand out and therefore get eaten by predators. Therefore more black moths survived and reproduced creating 98% of moths being black peppered moths
What is a selective pressure?
Any factor within an environment which alters the behaviour and or physical appearance of a species, driving force if evolution and natural selection. Divided into two types of pressure biotic and abiotic
What are some types of selective pressures?
Predators and preys Vegetation type Terrain Weather Water availability Sunlight Humidity Temperature Salinity
What is extinction?
the fact or process of a species, family, or other group of animals or plants becoming extinct (no longer existing)
Extinction facts
Freshwater ecosystems are the most endangered habitats in the world
As many as 30-50 percent of all species are heading towards extinction
ESA 1973 protects registered endangered animals
What is the meaning of evolution?
Natural process requires no intervention by man, natural selection, adaptation of species to their environment
What is the meaning of domestication?
Wild animals come into contact with a human setting, specific characteristics and behaviour were developed for human purposes
Why domesticate animals?
Food source Clothing Guarding Transport Vermin control Interest
How were animals domesticated?
Animals domesticated themselves dogs Exchange of needs cats Trapping and capturing pigs Confinement horses Physical domination Selective breeding cattle
What is a breed?
A breed is a group of animals that have been selectively bred by humans, these groups possess a uniform appearance that is inheritable. This appearance distinguishes them from others of the same species
What are some reasons for breeding?
Economic Aesthetic Rituals Status Sport
N’dama cattle
Developed a resistance to sleeping sickness which is spread by the tse-tse fly. This reduces cattle death rate
Charolais cattle
Been selected for their muscling and size, provides a good meat source
Meishan pigs
They become sexually mature at 6 months and produce two litters a year, they produce up to 16 piglets per litter
Easy care sheep
Wool less so no need to shear yearly
More milk is produced as less energy spent on growing wool
Consequently larger lambs are produced
Bald chickens
No need to pluck
The birds are cooler in hot climates
The birds grow quicker as less energy is spent on growing feathers
These birds can burn quicker due to lack of feather protection
Shire horses
There were specially bred in order to pull heavy loads
Needed to be docile and patient
Cat origins
Early cat domestication took place thousands of years ago in two strands
Originated in the Fertile Crescent in the Near East 9000 years ago and in ancient Egypt 7000 years ago
Domesticated cats all come from African wildcat
Dog domestication
Domestic dogs have work ancestors
Dogs were domesticated around 15000years ago
Genetic studies have pinpointed everywhere from southern China, Mongolia to Europe
Dogs were the first animals to be domesticated
Roles of today’s moderns breeds
Dogs have been used in Wars (communication and guarding) Search and rescue Helping the disabled Police work Drug detection
What dog has returned to the wild in Australia
The dingo
What is the definition of welfare?
A state of complete mental and physical health where the animal is in harmony within its environment
What is animals use In religion?
Animals appear in almost all religions Worship and sacred Sacrificial Reincarnation Spiritual connection Moralistic stories
