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Applications for Methods of On-Farm Welfare Assessment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

D C J Main ,
J P Kent ,
F Wemelsfelder ,
E Ofner  and
F A M Tuyttens
D C J Main*
Affiliation:
University of Bristol, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
J P Kent
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
F Wemelsfelder
Affiliation:
Sustainable Livestock Systems, Scottish Agricultural College, Bush Estate, Penicuik EH26 0PH, UK
E Ofner
Affiliation:
BAL Gumpenstein, Federal Research Institute for Agriculture in Alpine Regions, Unit for Agricultural Buildings and Husbandry, Altirdning 11, A-8952 Irdning, Austria
F A M Tuyttens
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanisation-Labour-Buildings-Animal Welfare and Environmental Protection (DVL), Agricultural Research Centre (CLO), Burg Van Gansberghelaan 115, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: D.C.J.Main@bristol.ac.uk
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Abstract

Animal welfare assessment at group level is a scientific discipline that is rapidly developing. The interest in welfare assessment systems is based on an ethical concern for the welfare of farm animals. The scientific community plays an important role in delivering an appropriate repeatable, valid and feasible framework for these assessments. Consideration of the potential applications of these techniques is important for deciding upon the requirements of specific assessment systems. This paper provides a brief overview of the different types of applications, which can be categorised broadly into research, legislative requirements (non-voluntary), certification systems (voluntary) and advisory/management tools. These applications may have various goals: quantification of welfare, provision of welfare assurance or welfare management. Assessment systems vary in many characteristics, such as whether they are animal- or resource-based, and whether they are based on single or integrated scores. Different applications will require different elements of these features.

Keywords

advisoryanimal welfareapplicationscertificationlegislationwelfare assessment
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 12 , Issue 4: Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level , November 2003 , pp. 523 - 528
Copyright
© 2003 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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