Jessica Walker INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL WELFARE

 Welfare is an individuals state as regards to its attempts to cope with its environment (Broom 1986).  ‘The state of complete mental and physical health where the animal in is harmony with it’s environment’ (Hughes 1976) WHAT IS ANIMAL WELFARE

 Body repair systems.  Immunological defences.  Emergency physiological responses.  Variety of behavioural responses. ATTEMPTS TO COPE RELATE TO:

 3 Concepts  Physical health  Mental health (including how it feels)  Capability to act naturally WHAT IS ANIMAL WELFARE?

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE THREE CONCEPTS

THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT 1999

 Freedom from Hunger and Thirst  Freedom from Discomfort  Freedom from Pain  Freedom to express Normal Behaviour  Freedom from Fear and Distress THE FIVE FREEDOMS

ANIMAL WELFARE 5 FREEDOMS IN THE WILD… Hunger and thirst Scarce food / water Thermal and physical discomfort Poor weather Injury and disease No veterinary treatment Normal behaviour Killing of prey Fear and distress Predators

 Welfare science considers effects of humans on the animal from the animal’s point of view  Welfare ethics considers human actions towards animals  Welfare legislation considers how humans must treat animals ANIMAL SCIENCE VS ANIMAL ETHICS VS ANIMAL LAW

WHAT IS THE WELFARE OF THE FOLLOWING CATS?  A pet cat that has an infected wound - owners noticed a problem two weeks ago but failed to take the cat for veterinary treatment.  A pet cat that has an infected wound - the cat had been missing for two weeks but when it returned the owners took it for veterinary treatment.

 Both cats have the same welfare status - Welfare science shows no difference.  Different human care - Owners have different moral behaviour - Ethics not science WELFARE OF ANIMALS VERSUS HUMAN CARE

 “Welfare defines the state of an animal as regards its attempts to cope with its environment.” (Fraser & Broom, 1990). HOW CAN WE ASSESS ANIMAL WELFARE SCIENTIFICALLY?

WELFARE CONTINUUM:  Overall summary of welfare status Good Poor

ANIMAL WELFARE CRITERIA: PoorGood

Hunger / Thirst Pain / Distress Injury / Disease Shelter Normal behaviour Overall WELFARE STATUS = FIVE FREEDOMS Poor Good

 Variety of normal behaviours are shown.  Extent to which strongly preferred behaviours can be shown.  Physiological indicators of pleasure.  Behavioural indicators of pleasure. MEASURES OF GOOD WELFARE

 Decreased life expectancy.  Decreased ability to grow or breed.  Body damage.  Disease.  Immunosuppression.  Physiological attempts to cope.  Behavioural attempts to cope.  Self narcotisation.  Extent of behavioural aversion shown.  Extent of suppression of normal behaviour  Extent to which normal physiological processes and anatomical development are prevented. MEASURES OF POOR WELFARE

 Attempt to solve this problem by designing environmental enrichment that can…  Reproduce good features of natural environment  Eliminate negative features of natural environment  BUT… a very difficult balance to achieve  Short term vs. long term welfare  Legal considerations / restrictions  Public perceptions (e.g. feeding live prey) ENRICHMENT AND ANIMAL WELFARE

 Food hiding increases foraging in Asian Elephants  Less stereotypic pacing in polar bears with increased foraging opportunities  Laying Scent trails reduces apathy/immobility in captive reptiles  Provision of suspended swings, barrels and platforms encourages play in chimpanzees  Training sessions associated with reduced performance of stereotypic behaviour in sea lions RESEARCH

PART TWO: ASSESSING WELFARE USING BEHAVIOUR.

 Freedom from Hunger and Thirst  Freedom from Discomfort  Freedom from Pain  Freedom to express Normal Behaviour  Freedom from Fear and Distress THE FIVE FREEDOMS

 Alertness  Curiosity  Range of activities  Interaction with other members of the herd/flock  Interaction with humans / Aversion to humans  Play BEHAVIOURAL INDICATORS - THE ‘NORMAL’ ANIMAL:

THE “NORMAL” ANIMAL - ALERTNESS

THE “NORMAL” ANIMAL - CURIOUS

THE “NORMAL” ANIMAL - RANGE OF ACTIVITIES

THE “NORMAL” ANIMAL - INTERACTION WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP

THE “NORMAL” ANIMAL - INTERACTION WITH HUMANS

THE “NORMAL” ANIMAL - PLAY

1.Limited range of activity 2.Panting and/or sweating 3.Huddling or shivering 4.Depression 5.Abnormal fear or aggression towards humans 6.Stereotypies and other behavioural abnormalities BEHAVIOURAL INDICATORS OF POOR WELFARE:

RESTRICTION OF “NORMAL”  Sow Stall

 The animals behaviour can tell us about their welfare.  If the animals behaviour indicates poor welfare we need to investigate causes and possible solutions. SUMMARY

 World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA): international.org/wspaswork/education/concepts-animal- welfare-modules.aspx REFERENCES/ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

QUESTIONS?