Key Area 4

Question 1

What is animal welfare?

Answer 1

wellbeing of an animal including ability of the animal to express its natural behavioural patterns.

Question 2

Long term benefits of improving welfare.

Answer 2

 increased growth of animals
 increased success rate of breeding
 higher quality end products

Question 3

Why is intensive farming less ethical

Answer 3

Intensive farming is less ethical than free range farming due to poorer animal welfare but
is often more cost effective, generating higher profit as costs are low.

Question 4

Behavioural Indicators of Poor Welfare

Answer 4

Stereotypy—repetitive movement

Misdirected behaviour—behaviour directed at self eg. Plucking out feathers, knowing on solid objects, hyperagression.

Failure in sexual or parental behaviour—not able to produce offspring or not looking after young.

Altered levels of activity eg. Sleeping all day