The role of the veterinary profession in promoting animal welfare.

Abstract

JAVMA, Vol 246, No. 5, March 1, 2015 T beginning of the modern era of concern for animal welfare is often linked to the 1965 release of the Brambell report in the United Kingdom, which suggested that to ensure good welfare, an animal should have “sufficient freedom of movement to be able without difficulty to turn around, groom itself, get up, lie down and stretch its limbs.” Subsequently, the idea of the five freedoms (freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury, and disease; freedom to express normal behavior; and freedom from fear and distress) emerged as a cornerstone of farm animal welfare policy in Great Britain. The five freedoms primarily focus on minimizing suffering and providing essential needs. A more comprehensive view of animal welfare that considers the perspective of the animal, rather than just the animal’s value to humans, has since been developed. This more contemporary interpretation takes into consideration not only the physical health (ie, whether the animals are free from pain, hunger, thirst, injury, and disease) of the animals under our supervision but also their mental health (ie, whether the animals suffer from the negative effects of stress and fear and whether they have opportunities for positive experiences such as play, touch, choice, or freedom) and ability to satisfy behavioral needs (ie, specific behavior patterns that when prevented, result in frustration or a negative psychological state). Veterinarians are in a unique position to influence animal welfare standards by virtue of our scientific training and the trust animal caretakers place in us. Concern for animal welfare prompted a revision of the veterinarian’s oath in 2010 to add the words and welfare: “I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare....” This acknowledged a change in the purview of the profession beyond that of physical health alone. Too often, however, the animal welfare policies adopted by the AVMA emphasize physical health to a greater extent than animals’ mental states or ability to express natural behaviors, particularly when it comes to farm animal welfare. I contend that these views on farm animal welfare lag behind those of society as a whole and that by continuing to espouse these positions, the AVMA risks abandoning its role as an advocate for the welfare of farm animals. An examination of just two issues—battery cage confinement of laying hens and confinement of breeding sows in gestation crates—illustrates my concerns. The role of the veterinary profession in promoting animal welfare