Animal Welfare

Question 1

What is animal welfare?

Answer 1

Refers to the physical and mental well-being of animals

Also human’s concern for the animals health

Question 2

How is animal welfare measured?

Answer 2

Measured by indicators including behaviour, physiology, longevity and reproduction

Question 3

Animals should have the freedom to?

Answer 3

Be free from hunger and thirst
Free from discomfort
Free from pain, injury and disease
Free from fear and distress
Free to express their normal behaviour

Question 4

Why is intensive farming less ethical than free range farming?

Answer 4

Due to poorer animal welfare

Question 5

Describe the pros of intensive farming

Answer 5

Often more cost effective generating higher profit as costs are low

Question 6

Describe the cons of intensive farming

Answer 6

Less ethical than free range farming due to poorer animal welfare

Question 7

Describe the pros of free range farming

Answer 7

Can be sold at a higher price and animals have better quality of life

Question 8

Describe the cons of free range farming

Answer 8

Requires more land and is more labour intensive

Question 9

Describe how poor welfare can be indicated

Answer 9

By behaviours that differ from those in a natural environment

Question 10

Name behavioural indicators of poor welfare

Answer 10

Stereotypy- repetitive movements

Misdirected behaviour- normal behaviours aimed inappropriately such as self-mutilation, pecking others, sucking objects

Failure in sexual or parental behaviour

Altered levels of activity

Question 11

Describe the changes in animals levels of activity

Answer 11

Changes in levels could either be very low - apathy

Or very high - hysteria