1. Higher Biology
Unit 3
3.4- Animal Welfare

2. Wellbeing
The wellbeing of domesticated animals was traditionally based upon their physical health
This took into account their ability to grow, to reproduces and raise offspring successfully and resist disease.
Animal welfare now takes into account the physical wellbeing as well as taking into account an animal’s opportunities to express normal, natural behaviours

3. Farm Animal Welfare Council
The FAWC is an independent body set up to review the welfare of farm animals
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 states that the needs of an animal must be met
These needs are based on the five freedoms for animal welfare

4. Five Freedoms Freedom : Met by: From Hunger and thirst
Providing access to water and a diet that maintains full health
From Discomfort
Providing an appropriate environment that includes shelter and a rest area
From Pain, injury and disease
Use of preventative measures and where necessary diagnosis and treatment of any problems
To express normal behaviours
Providing adequate space, facilities and company of other animals of same kind
From fear and distress
Providing conditions and treatment that avoid causing mental suffering

5. Costs and benefits
By ensuring that all domestic animals are able to access the five freedoms incurs additional costs initially
This initial cost will result in long term benefits
Animals who experience a high level of welfare grow better, breed more successfully and generate products of a higher quality

6. Ethics
Ethics refers to the moral values and rules that should govern behaviours
It is not ethical to subject animals to a series of negative experiences such as pain and distress simply for cheap eggs and meat

7. Battery hens are kept in crowded conditions in cages
Battery hens are kept in crowded conditions in cages. They have little opportunity to express natural behaviours such as foraging. Compare this to free range hens who have the opportunity to move around freely and exhibit natural behaviours.

8. Indicators of poor welfare
Animals kept in conditions where their welfare is not being adequately met will often express unnatural behaviours

9. Stereotypy
A stereotypy is a behaviour pattern that takes the form of a repetitive movement without an apparent function
They are often displayed by animals in confined quarters without opportunities to participate in natural behaviours
Examples can include animals pacing back and forth in zoos, and cattle rolling their tongues continuously

10. Stereotypy Video

11. Stereotypy
It can be argued that the purpose of a stereotypic behaviour is to allow an animal to express frustration or expend energy it would normally use in a manner it is currently unable to

12. Misdirected behaviour
A misdirected behaviour is one where a normal pattern of behaviour is directed inappropriately towards the animal itself, another animal or its surroundings
It is a common occurrence in animals kept in confinement or isolation
Examples of misdirected behaviour include excessive licking, plucking or chewing of feathers

13. Enrichment
Stereotypic behaviours and misdirected behaviours can be overcome by enriching an animal’s environment
Zoos and safari parks use enrichment techniques to keep animals stimulated and avoid mental stress

15. Failure in sexual or parental behaviour
Poor welfare can result in the failure of successful reproduction and failure to raise young
Some animals may produce young but then reject them and fail to act as effective parents
Animals such as mammals and birds need social contact with members of their own species to develop into healthy adults capable of successful reproduction
Given these conditions reproductive failure is normally overcome

16. Activity Levels
Hyper aggression and excessive sleeping can be indicators that an animal is suffering as a result of poor welfare