The discussion surrounding animal welfare has been growing in popularity within the bovine industry, as well as consumers. At its core, animal welfare is the belief that animals should be treated with respect and dignity throughout their lifetime.
The OIE (The World Organization for Animal Health) is the industry leader when it comes to animal welfare. They define it as “a complex and multi-faceted subject with scientific, ethical, economic, cultural, social, religious and political dimensions.”
While many countries and organizations have a different definition of animal welfare, most of them are based on the Five Freedoms. Following the 1964 publication of Animal Machines by Ruth Harrison, an animal welfare activist, the UK government led an investigation into the welfare of farmed animals. The Five Freedoms were developed following this investigation, in a 1965 UK Government report. They were formalized in 1979 statement by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Council.
THE FIVE FREEDOMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
- Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment, including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
- Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
- Freedom to express normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animals’ own kind.
- Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
Animal welfare is a holistic approach to raising animals. The American Veterinary Medical Association says “good animal welfare requires disease prevention and veterinary treatment, appropriate shelter, management, nutrition, humane handling, and humane slaughter.”
All these aspects of animal welfare are important for producers to understand. Missing one or more of these principles means there are areas for improvement within your herd.
