When reading articles that mention animal welfare, I often find myself questioning the term. Is it the word “welfare” itself, and how it’s typically used in the context of humans, that feels somewhat off when applied to animals? Or is there another aspect of it that doesn’t quite align with my understanding of the term?
In today’s livestock agriculture, farmers and animal caretakers are expected to respect the conditions of how animals are cared for, allowing them to lead healthy, productive lives and manifest all their biological functions freely.
There is a difference
While both terms are often used interchangeably, they encapsulate distinct aspects of animal care that are key to ensuring the health, productivity, and ethical treatment of animals in farming environments. To clarify these concepts, it is essential to start with their most widely accepted definitions and the authoritative sources from which they derive.
Animal welfare: The World Organization for Animal Health Office International des Epizooties (OIE) defines animal welfare as “how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives.” This definition emphasizes the animal’s physical health, comfort, and ability to engage in natural behaviors.
Welfare is assessed by indicators such as disease prevalence, injury rates, and behaviors that signify distress or discomfort. This approach to animal welfare focuses on measurable outcomes that reflect the immediate health status and living conditions of the animal, aiming to ensure that basic needs are met and suffering is minimized.
Continue reading this article published in Hoard’s Dairyman.
