Methodologies by which to study and evaluate welfare issues facing livestock systems of production
Lindsay R. MatthewsAnimal Behaviour and Welfare, AgSystems, AgResearch Ltd, PB 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand. Email: lindsay.matthews@agresearch.co.nz
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48(7) 1014-1021 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA08011
Submitted: 4 January 2008 Accepted: 28 April 2008 Published: 20 June 2008
Abstract
The viability of livestock farming requires practices that are not only productive and profitable but fit with society’s expectations on ethical dimensions such as animal welfare. Scientific methodologies for the evaluation of welfare issues and welfare status that reflect the diversity of ethical views about animal welfare are required. Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive, fully validated system for evaluating the welfare standards of livestock in New Zealand, Australia or elsewhere. Development of appropriate welfare assessment methodologies that are credible to all stakeholders will require a better understanding of: (i) changes in physical health and functioning that correspond with different levels of welfare; (ii) the capacities of livestock to experience negative and positive mental states and associated levels of welfare; (iii) the ways that separate measures and welfare attributes can be weighted and integrated to give an overall index of welfare; and (iv) validated, practical measurement tools for use in the production environment. It is argued that an animal-centric approach is required to achieve these aims, particularly the use of measures that reflect not just the responses of animals, but their perceptions as well. Further, there is a need to extend the perceptions approach from the current focus on measurement of resources that animals need (or need to avoid), to measurement of perceptions about health states. Existing and novel techniques based on behavioural economics offer the most promise for achieving these aims. A similar animal-centric, perception approach offers a novel method for developing an overall index of welfare that allows integration of welfare status across welfare domains and reflects the animals’ views (rather than human judgement, as at present). Conventional wisdom has it that animal welfare is high in pastoral production systems typical for Australasia. The reality of this perception awaits the further development and application of comprehensive practical, validated welfare monitoring methodologies.
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