scholarly journals Developing effective welfare measures for cattle

2021 ◽  
pp. 81-102
Author(s):  
Ute Knierim ◽  
◽  
Christoph Winckler ◽  
Luc Mounier ◽  
Isabelle Veissier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
Welfare Measure ◽  
Welfare Measures

This chapter focuses on the performance characteristics a welfare measure should possess in order to be considered valid for the assessment of animal welfare. It presents a choice of validation measures that can be used to assess the welfare of cattle and discusses ways they can be collected in practice. The chapter also presents the various definitions of animal welfare and how these definitions can affect the measures that are chosen.

scholarly journals Legal Complexities of Animal Welfare in Australia: Do On-Animal Sensors Offer a Future Option?

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Jaime Manning ◽  
Deborah Power ◽  
Amy Cosby
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Data Transmission ◽  
Continuous Measurement ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Value Proposition ◽  
Data Governance ◽  
Behavioural State ◽  
A Value ◽  
Welfare Measures ◽  
The Cost

The five freedoms and, more recently, the five domains of animal welfare provide internationally recognised frameworks to evaluate animal welfare practices which recognise both the physical and mental wellbeing needs of animals, providing a balanced view of their ability to cope in their environment. Whilst there are many techniques to measure animal welfare, the challenge lies with how best to align these with future changes in definitions and expectations, advances in science, legislative requirements, and technology improvements. Furthermore, enforcement of current animal welfare legislation in relation to livestock in Australia and the reliance on self-audits for accreditation schemes, challenges our ability to objectively measure animal welfare. On-animal sensors have enormous potential to address animal welfare concerns and assist with legislative compliance, through continuous measurement and monitoring of an animal’s behavioural state and location being reflective of their wellbeing. As reliable animal welfare measures evolve and the cost of on-animal sensors reduce, technology adoption will increase as the benefits across the supply chain are realised. Future adoption of on-animal sensors by producers will primarily depend on a value proposition for their business being clear; algorithm development to ensure measures are valid and reliable; increases in producer knowledge, willingness, and trust in data governance; and improvements in data transmission and connectivity.

scholarly journals Effect of Animal Welfare Quality on the Reproductive Performance of Extensive Pasture-Based Beef Cows in New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Baby Kaurivi ◽  
Richard Laven ◽  
Tim Parkinson ◽  
Rebecca Hickson ◽  
Kevin Stafford
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Mating Period ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Components Analysis ◽  
Welfare Measures ◽  
The Relationship

One key area where animal welfare may relate to productivity is through reproductive performance. Welfare was assessed on 25 extensively managed pastoral New Zealand beef farms and the relationship between welfare and reproductive performance was explored. Relationships between welfare measures and key reproductive performance indicators (pregnancy rate, weaning rate, mating period and bull: cow ratio) were investigated using an exploratory Principal Components Analysis and linear regression model. Seven welfare measures (thinness, poor rumen fill, dirtiness, blindness, mortality, health checks of pregnant cows and yarding frequency/year) showed potential influence on reproductive performance, and lameness was retained individually as a potential measure. Mean pregnancy rates in both 2018 (PD18) and 2017 (PD17) were ~91% and mean weaning rate was 84%. Of the welfare measures, only lameness had a direct association with pregnancy rate, as well as confounding effect on the association between mating period and pregnancy rate. The bull: cow ration (mean 1:31) and reproductive conditions (dystocia, abortion, vaginal prolapse) did not influence pregnancy and weaning rates. In the study population there was no clear association between welfare and reproductive performance, except for the confounding effects of lameness.

scholarly journals Importance and Feasibility of Animal Welfare Measures from a Consumer Perspective in Germany

Food Ethics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin Winkel ◽  
Sirkka Schukat ◽  
Heinke Heise
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Welfare Programs ◽  
The Public ◽  
Representative Study ◽  
Perceived Importance ◽  
Consumer Perspective ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Welfare Measures

AbstractThe subject animal welfare is increasingly in the public discourse. Consumers and policymakers are increasingly demanding products that are produced under increased animal welfare standards. The profession of the farmer involuntarily gets into disrepute. Many consumers want fundamental changes in pig farming, but are not aware of the consequences of implementation. In this representative study, consumers (n = 1101) were asked about their assessment of 33 animal welfare measures with regard to their importance and the feasibility of implementing those measures. With the help of a four-field matrix, both the perceived importance and the feasibility of the animal welfare measures surveyed were brought together. The results show four possibilities: important and easy to implement, important and not feasible, not important and easy to implement as well as not important and not feasible. The results show that any outdoor access to pasture ranks first, followed by any outdoor access to straw bedding. The results can make a significant contribution to future communication with critical consumers concerning the implementation of higher animal welfare levels, as it becomes clearer how realistic consumers are about the feasibility of several animal welfare measures. Furthermore, the results could prove useful for the design of animal welfare programs and could help famers making targeted decisions concerning stable construction and management.

scholarly journals Varying Opinions about Animal Welfare in the Australian Live Export Industry: A Survey

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1864
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Fleming ◽  
Sarah L. Wickham ◽  
Anne L. Barnes ◽  
David W. Miller ◽  
Teresa Collins
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Live Animal ◽  
The Public ◽  
Export Industry ◽  
Welfare Measures ◽  
Poor Welfare ◽  
Live Export

There is significant public interest in the Australian live animal export industry and a need to develop a program that can measure and monitor animal welfare throughout the supply chain. An online survey of stakeholder opinions of this industry and animal welfare measures was carried out in 2015 with 921 respondents: 30% from the public who identified as animal welfare advocates (AWAs); 44% from the public who did not identify as AWAs (general public; GP); 26% live export industry (LEI) workers. AWA and GP respondents expressed greater concern than LEI respondents for animal welfare throughout the supply chain but had less concern for animals at Australian feedlots than in other parts of the supply chain. The majority of AWA and GP respondents believed data collected on animal welfare should be made public and should be collected by independent welfare officers and used to regulate the industry and impose penalties for poor welfare. LEI workers believed that data should be confidential, collected by LEI workers and used by the industry to self-regulate. AWA and GP respondents rated the importance and practicality of a number of welfare indicators greater than LEI workers, while respondents shared an analogous view of the importance and practicality of these indicators. Results can be used to develop welfare assessments that ensure a better understanding between industry members and those not in the industry, while facilitating welfare improvements and promoting greater transparency for the live export industry.

scholarly journals Study of animal welfare status in dairy cow herds in Hungary

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.T. Gudaj ◽  
E. Brydl ◽  
J. Lehoczky ◽  
I. Komlósi
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Normal Behaviour ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Welfare Measures

Animal welfare is a hot topic among consumers, producers and researches nowadays. The major welfare problems of dairy cows are mastitis, lameness, and any conditions which lead to impaired reproduction, inability to express normal behaviour, emergency physiological responses or injury. This paper summarizes preliminary results of project taken in 27 Hungarian dairy farms evaluating general animal welfare. The most important areas for improving animals? wellbeing are related to facilities and comfort of resting. Findings include slippery floors, cows struggling laying and standing in cubicles. Other measures include hair loss, hocks, neck rail injuries and number of thin cows (Body Condition Score 1 and 2). Mouldy silage and low quality of other feedstuff was also found. In conclusion, preliminary results confirm strong demand for monitoring farms and discussions with managers and farmers about welfare measures needed to be taken on farms immediately.

Chemical immobilisation and rangeland species: assessment of a helicopter darting method for Australian cattle

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan O. Hampton ◽  
Anja Skroblin ◽  
Tom R. De Ridder ◽  
Andrew L. Perry
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Physical Restraint ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Total Duration ◽  
Welfare Impacts ◽  
Welfare Measures ◽  
The One ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
North Western

Chemical immobilisation (darting) is increasingly being used for the capture of rangeland animals. The aim of the present study was to assess a newly developed helicopter-based chemical immobilisation method for free-ranging Australian rangeland cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus). Eighteen cattle were darted from a helicopter in north-western Australia in September 2015 using a combination of xylazine and ketamine, partially reversed with yohimbine. Following a recently published framework for assessing helicopter darting methods, we quantified several animal welfare measures designed to quantify the severity and duration of stress imposed by the procedures. The duration of the procedures was generally short (median total duration 41 min), but for 33% of animals total duration exceeded 60 min. Although the sample size was small, mortality rate on the day of capture was 17% (three animals) and 28% (five animals) required physical restraint to achieve recumbency. We describe this newly developed method and discuss its relatively poor animal welfare outcomes compared with other validated helicopter darting methods. Legislation restricts veterinary chemicals that may be used for food-producing species in many countries, including Australia. Chemical immobilisation regimens other than the one chosen in the present study may produce superior animal welfare outcomes but would not be compliant with legislation in Australia. As a result of these restrictions, we suggest that development of an improved helicopter darting method for Australian cattle may prove difficult. Rangeland managers should carefully consider animal welfare impacts before undertaking chemical immobilisation programs, especially for food-producing species.

Animal welfare measures for home and abroad

2021 ◽  
Vol 188 (10) ◽  
pp. 370-370
Author(s):  
Josh Loeb
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Welfare Measures

Animal welfare measures and the WTO Post-EC - seal products case: a renewed debate and research agenda.

2020 ◽  
pp. 156-172
Author(s):  
Carolina Maciel ◽  
Bettina Bock
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Dispute Settlement ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Farm Animal Welfare ◽  
Trade Restrictions ◽  
The World ◽  
Welfare Measures ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
Trade Measures

Abstract For nearly 20 years trade officials and scholars debated whether a national measure restricting trade on the basis of animal welfare concerns could be deemed compliant with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In June 2014, the dispute settlement body of the WTO adopted the decision on the EC - Seal Products case confirming that trade-restrictive measures aimed at safeguarding the welfare of animals can be deemed necessary to protect citizens' moral concerns. While this decision provides long-awaited answers and insights, it does not exhaust the debate on the obstacles for justifying animal welfare trade restrictions. This paper provides an overview of controversies surrounding the topic of animal welfare from a WTO perspective and a brief review of the findings from the EC - Seal Products case. In addition, this chapter calls for further research on potential controversies that may rise in relation to trade measures in contexts beyond seal hunting; like, for instance, regulatory divergences over farm animal welfare measures. In doing so, it recommends that future research pays special attention to the potential controversies associated with the use of animal welfare recommendations elaborated by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) (OIE, 2019).

What Is Animal Welfare?

2021 ◽  
pp. 3-14
Author(s):  
Marian Stamp Dawkins
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Conscious Experience ◽  
Complexity Problem ◽  
Welfare Measures ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Agreed Definition ◽  
Simple Definition

The two main reasons it has been so difficult to arrive at an agreed definition of animal welfare are the ‘complexity problem’ (so many different measures of welfare now available) and the ‘consciousness problem’ (conscious experience is itself so difficult to define). There is, however, a relatively simple definition of welfare that provides a solution to both of these problems. Defining animal welfare as ‘health and animals having what they want’ can be easily understood by scientists and non-scientists alike, expresses in simple words what many existing definitions are trying to say anyway and provides the ‘valence’ needed to validate the long list of welfare measures we now have available. Above all, it shows what evidence we need to collect to improve animal welfare in practice.

Sealing animal welfare into the GATT exceptions: the international dimension of animal welfare in WTO disputes

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
KATIE SYKES
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
International Law ◽  
The Other ◽  
Legal Norms ◽  
International Dimension ◽  
Trade Law ◽  
International Trade Law ◽  
Welfare Measures ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractEC–Seal Products has been characterized as a contest between local moral preferences about animal welfare, on the one hand, and global commitments to trade disciplines on the other. But that description fails to take into account the development of international legal norms concerning animal welfare and their relevance to this case, as well as to other potential disputes involving animal welfare measures that affect trade. The international dimension of animal welfare implicates two ongoing debates in international trade law: what the relationship should be between WTO law and general international law, and the extent to which ‘public morals’ under Article XX(a) of GATT can be locally defined or need to be internationally shared. This Article examines the argument that there is a general principle of international law concerning animal welfare, and analyzes the role that international norms regarding animal welfare should play in EC–Seal Products.

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