Animal welfare in farm animals: Principles, science, and global challenges

Animal Welfare refers to the physical and mental state of an animal in relation to the conditions in which it lives and dies. The current chapter provides a basic overview of animal welfare in agriculture. It covers the history of animal welfare, describing the progression of moral consideration of animals, sentience, and eventual development of early welfare policy. Key animal welfare frameworks are presented, covering the “Five Freedoms” and “Five Domains” model. The chapter also explains the key role of Animal Welfare Science in better understanding animals’ needs and how best to address these. It describes some of the scientific methodologies used to understand animals’ motivation and needs, and welfare assessment procedures. Finally, some common characteristics of comprehensive welfare legislation are discussed, along with a review of priority welfare issues in agricultural systems, emerging research directions, and the crucial roles of various stakeholders in fostering continuous improvement in animal welfare.