Higher Animal Welfare Standards Research Articles

Context, Orders of Worth, and the Justification of Meat Consumption Practices

AbstractAlthough animal welfare is felt to be important by consumers, behavioural patterns do not fully reflect this. Rather than relating this attitude‐behaviour gap to hypocrisy, this article, building on pragmatic sociological theory and an empirical study, focuses on context‐dependent moral evaluations. An analysis of focus‐group interviews conducted in three countries shows that meat‐related consumption practices involve several competing sets of moral conventions, and the results demonstrate that public concerns about animal welfare vary depending on whether they relate to an everyday or production context. In the former, animal welfare does not play a big role, and given this it can be argued that people are not hypocritical, since the practices and perceptions are actually united within the given context. It is concluded that the lack of civic justifications in the context of everyday life calls for new ways of making animal welfare relevant in this context in order to support consumers in moving towards products with high standards of animal welfare.

COMMINUTED FRACTURE OF RIGHT TARSAL BONES WITH OLD CALLUS FORMATION IN A SLAUGHTERED PIG

An enlarged and hard right hind limb of a condemned lame pig from a local slaughterhouse was submitted to National Chung Hsing University for pathological examination on 29 May 2015. Gross examination revealed brush burn and skin abscess. The radiography of the affected foot showed enlarged hock joint, collapsed tarsal joint with bony proliferation, and a soft tissue mass extending from the lateral to the tarsal bones. After the sample was split between the third and fourth metatarsal bone longitudinally, the calcaneus, talus, and the fourth tarsal bone were shown to be broken and damaged. Histopathological findings were as follows. First, the fractured bones showed the formation of callus and multiple small bone fragments were found. Second, osteoclasts and osteogenesis with bone remodeling were discovered at the edge of the bone fragments. Third, the skin abscess showed well-encapsulated clumps of bacteria and cellular debris. Trueperella pyogenes was identified from skin abscess and bone marrow. We speculate that the neglected fractures might have been related to crush injury inflicted by a sow or possible damage caused by the floor of the crate. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high standard of animal welfare and once a lesion has occurred in food-producing animals, medication or elimination should be considered to avoid the long-term suffering of the animals.

Considerations for a European animal welfare standard to evaluate adverse phenotypes in teleost fish

Fish, in particular genetically modified zebrafish, are important model organisms for biomedical research and research into human diseases. The European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes entails that genetically altered vertebrates need to be assessed for pain, suffering, distress, or lasting harm (collectively referred to here as “adverse phenotypes”). If such phenotypes are present, maintenance of genetically altered animals is now subject to project authorization. As genetically altered fish are commonly imported into the EU and exchanged between laboratories, fish lines should be classified consistently. To this end, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) organized a workshop in June 2015 to define criteria for assessing genetically induced adverse phenotypes in fish. Here, we describe the Workshop's considerations that guided the design of dedicated evaluation sheets. We believe that broad use of these evaluation sheets and the explanatory notes associated with them can contribute substantially to harmonizing how teleost fish phenotypes are assessed across Europe. In our view, this would protect both animal welfare and ensure progress in biomedical research. Across Europe, welfare of laboratory animals is a growing public concern (Ormandy & Schuppli, 2014). Yet, a majority of European citizens is willing to accept animal experimentation to promote biomedical progress (http://ec.europa.eu/public\_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs\_340_en.pdf). The spirit of the European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, which has been implemented by all EU member states only last year, reflects these attitudes: Recital 10 of the Directive states that the final goal is to phase out all animal testing, but it also acknowledges that animal experiments are still needed to advance research and to safeguard human, animal, and environmental health (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32010L0063&from=EN). To that end, all member states agreed on a high standard of animal welfare in …

Seeing the Animal: On the Ethical Implications of De-animalization in Intensive Animal Production Systems

This article discusses the notion that the invisibility of the animalness of the animal constitutes a fundamental obstacle to change within current production systems. It is discussed whether housing animals in environments that resemble natural habitats could lead to a re-animalization of the animals, a higher appreciation of their moral significance, and thereby higher standards of animal welfare. The basic claim is that experiencing the animals in their evolutionary and environmental context would make it harder to objectify animals as mere bioreactors and production systems. It is argued that the historic objectification of animals within intensive animal production can only be reversed if animals are given the chance to express themselves as they are and not as we see them through the tunnel visions of economy and quantifiable welfare assessment parameters.

Elicitation of preferences of Dutch broiler and pig farmers to support decision making on animal welfare

Conjoint analysis was conducted to elicit Dutch broiler and fattening pig farmers’ preferences about different characteristics of production systems, with primary interest in farmers’ intrinsic motivation towards animal welfare (AW). A cluster analysis was carried out to identify distinct groups of farmers with homogeneous preferences. The results showed that farmers preferred conventional practices and had negative preferences towards free-range systems. Two clusters of broiler farmers were distinguished. The ‘Free-range opposed’ cluster evaluated a production system by focusing on a single aspect, the provision of free-range access, while the ‘Multi-attribute focused’ cluster included multiple attributes in their evaluation. In the case of fattening pig farmers, no clusters could be identified. Results showed that farmers do not have a strong intrinsic motivation to switch to a system with higher animal welfare standards. It is therefore likely that the level of on-farm AW will be determined by external and farm-specific factors, and that higher levels of AW will only be achieved if these factors are favorable for the adoption of these production systems.

Amino acids in sheep production.

Increasing production efficiency with a high standard of animal welfare and respect for the environment is a goal of sheep farming systems. Substantial gains in productivity have been achieved through improved genetics, nutrition and management changes; however the survival and growth performance of multiple-born lambs still remains a problem. This is a significant production efficiency and animal well-being issue. There is a growing body of evidence that some amino acids have a role in regulating growth, reproduction and immunity through modulation of metabolic and cell signaling pathways. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of what is currently known about the role of amino acids in sheep production and the potential for supplementation strategies to influence on-farm survival and growth of lambs.

Integrating animal welfare into wild herbivore management: lessons from the Australian Feral Camel Management Project

The Australian Feral Camel Management Project (AFCMP) was initiated in 2009 to manage the growing impacts of feral camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Australia. One of the most important considerations for the project was achieving high standards of animal welfare and demonstrating this to stakeholders and the public. The novelty of feral camels as an invasive species meant that relatively little was known about the animal welfare aspects of the available management techniques. To address this knowledge gap, quantitative animal-based assessment tools were developed to allow independent observers to perform repeatable in situ field auditing of the two main control methods used: aerial (helicopter) shooting and live capture (mustering and transport for slaughter). Although observation protocols allowed most stages of aerial shooting (in situ killing) to be assessed, not all stages of live capture operations could be assessed (namely transport and slaughter at ex situ abattoirs) due to the limitations of the jurisdiction of the Australian Feral Camel Management Project. For assessments that were performed, audit results were made available to project partners to allow procedures to be reviewed and published through peer-reviewed literature to improve transparency. Empirical evidence produced through the audit system was also used to refine humaneness ranking assessments comparing management methods. We present the lessons learnt through the animal welfare approach of the AFCMP to assist future wild herbivore management programs.

Associations between and development of welfare indicators in organic layers

The retail market share of organic eggs in Denmark is high, and the consumers expect high animal welfare standards in the organic production. Documentation of animal welfare is important, however, knowledge about the associations between animal-based welfare indicators is limited. The aims of the study were to investigate the associations between selected welfare indicators at two ages (peak and end of lay), and to examine the development with age of the chosen welfare indicators. The chosen welfare indicators were Ascaridia galli (roundworm) infection, Heterakis sp. (caecal worm) infection, keel bone damages, back feathering, body feathering, foot damages, comb colour and wounds on the body. An observational study with 12 organic egg farms was conducted in 2012 and 2013 with a total of 214 hens assessed individually at the peak and the end of lay. Insufficient data were obtained on helminth infection at the peak of lay. At the end of lay, all helminth infected hens were positive for A. galli, and only three of them had in addition a Heterakis sp. infection. Foot damages, pale combs and wounds on the body occurred at frequencies <5% and were therefore, together with the prevalence of Heterakis sp. infection, left out of the analysis of associations. A graphical model was used to analyse the associations between the remaining clinical welfare indicators, A. galli infection, housing systems and age of the hens at end of lay. A. galli infection was only directly associated with back feathering at end of lay (P=0.011) with an increased incidence of A. galli infection in hens with good back feathering. Between the two visits, the prevalence of hens with keel bone damages increased (P<0.001), and the plumage condition deteriorated (P<0.001), whereas the number of hens with plantar abscess (P=0.037) and pale combs (P=0.020) decreased. No significant differences were found for other foot damages or for skin damage. In conclusion, back feathering at end of lay provided information about a possible helminth infection, but this is not a useful indicator in daily on-farm management. In addition, evidence was found that the deterioration of the plumage condition with age was not only due to accumulation of damage over time.

Different shades of grey: Compromise products to encourage animal friendly consumption

Contemporary production and consumption are often characterised by negative externalities, for example regarding animal welfare. Despite consumer concerns about animal welfare standards in livestock production systems, the market share of organic meat is still low. The current paper investigates to what extent a more differentiated product assortment including “compromise alternatives”, providing consumers with more options to trade-off animal welfare against other attributes, increases the choice share of meat produced at beyond-regulatory standards for animal welfare. Results from a choice experiment in The Netherlands reveal considerable heterogeneity in consumer preferences regarding the trade-off between animal welfare level and price level. Two out of six segments, typically consumers with a lower education level and shoppers at discount supermarkets, are not or hardly prepared to pay a price premium for welfare enhanced meat. Two other segments show a preference for small increases in animal welfare level and associated costs. The remaining two other segments seem to reflect “protestors” against mainstream meat production in that they hold negative attitudes, beliefs and feelings regarding the consumption of conventionally-produced meat, either by turning to meat produced at high animal welfare standards (including meat replacement products) or by reducing meat consumption. It is concluded that an assortment that better caters for this heterogeneity in consumer preference by including “compromise meat products” is of the benefit to both the individual consumer (preferences), the animal (animal welfare levels) and the meat sector (clientele).

Monitoring trap-related injury status during large-scale wildlife management programmes: an adaptive management approach

Wildlife management and research programmes often rely on the capturing of live animals. All capture methods for wildlife involve a risk of injury. For that reason, monitoring of injuries should be completed concurrently, and efficiently, throughout the intervention programme, or study period, to uphold welfare standards. Here, we present a practical adaptive management system to monitor trap-related injuries as a component of broader attempts to maintain welfare standards. The monitoring system described is part of a large-scale tuberculosis-control management programme of European badgers (Meles meles) in the Republic of Ireland. Badgers were captured in stopped cable restraints. A standardised operating procedure was developed to allow for the necropsy of large numbers of badgers (N = 18,596) by a veterinary pathologist. As part of this programme, badger injury status was evaluated using a categorical severity scale ranging from 0 (no impact due to capture) to 6 (death) for badgers captured in restraints. No restraint-related deaths were recorded over the study period. Eighty-four percent of captured badgers exhibited no impact or only superficial hair/skin compression (scale 0–1). Logistic models indicated that injury severity was significantly influenced by year, season, age class, gender, weight and the body position where the badger was captured. Despite the low prevalence of severe injuries recorded, the proportion of animals with a minor injury type (skin oedema; scale 2) increased during the study period. This highlights the need for continual sensitive welfare vigilance during prolonged programmes. We suggest improvements to the current programme and additional adjustments for future vaccination campaigns. We contend that this type of monitoring, coupled with adaptive management strategies, is essential for wildlife programmes to maintain high animal welfare standards, at least in terms of injuries, but also highlight that trap injuries are only one component of animal welfare. We suggest that this adaptive management system could serve as a template for other similar wildlife programmes.

Group composition for fattening entire male pigs under enriched housing conditions—Influences on behaviour, injuries and boar taint compounds

In organic farming, the production of pork from entire male pigs seems to be the most promising alternative to castration, as organic animal husbandry aims at high standards of animal welfare and elimination of mutilations. However, previous research on behaviour of entire male pigs was mostly carried out under barren housing conditions and is thus not entirely transferrable to enriched housing conditions. In the present study, we investigated single-sex and mixed-sex groups of entire male pigs and compared them with mixed-sex groups of castrated male pigs under organic housing conditions. On a commercial farm, 362 pigs (average weight 22.7kg, average age 80 days) were assigned to pens with groups of 20 (+1) pigs according to three treatments: single-sex groups with entire males (EE), mixed-sex groups with entire males and females (EF) and mixed-sex groups with castrated males and females (CF). Skin and tail lesions, lameness and the behaviours ‘head knocking/biting’, ‘fighting’ and ‘mounting’ were assessed on five days during the fattening period. Average carcass weight for all sexes was 92kg. After slaughter, female reproductive organs were inspected for signs of pregnancy. Fat samples of entire male pigs were analysed for concentrations of androstenone and skatole. Entire males showed more aggressive and mounting behaviours than castrated males (p<0.001), and no difference was found between entire males from the EE and EF treatments. Welfare of female pigs was not impaired when penned together with entire males compared to when penned together with castrates, neither in terms of skin lesions nor in terms of received aggressive behaviour. Pigs in the EE treatment had higher lesion scores than those in the EF and CF treatments (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively), while the two latter treatments did not differ. In the inspected female reproductive organs, no pregnancy could be detected. The concentration of androstenone in fat indicated that the presence or absence of females in a group did not have an effect on the male pigs. Of the 177 slaughtered entire male pigs, only one carcass was classified as containing boar taint by a human nose test. Our findings suggest that under enriched housing conditions, entire males can be kept in single–sex groups as well as in mixed-sex groups with females without compromise in animal welfare.

Notes from a VN abroad – Vietnam

I came to Vietnam to work with the wildlife. Promoting high standards of animal welfare, speaking out for animals without a voice, is a very important part of why I became a veterinary nurse.Dao Ti...

Oxidative profiles of endurance horses racing different distances

Increased oxidative stress during prolonged endurance exercises may result in muscle damage, fatigue and decreased performance. An adequate stress response during training is critical to obtain improved results and high animal welfare standards. The aim of this study was to evaluate the red blood cell haemolysate concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) and the plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) from endurance horses in different distances at high speed in a tropical climate. Fifteen horses were tested; five at 160km (18.54 - 17.16km/h race speed), five at 120km (21.53 - 17km/h race speed) and five at 80km (20.06 - 18.01km/h race speed). Blood samples were collected at rest, immediately after and three hours after the horses left the final vet check and three, seven and fourteen days after the race. No significant increases (P &gt; 0.05) in the levels of SOD, GPx, GSH, CAT or MDA were observed for any of the times or distances examined. Based on these observations, we conclude that reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation during exercise evokes specific adaptations, such as increased antioxidant/oxidative damage-repairing enzyme activity, increased resistance to oxidative stress and lower levels of oxidative damage.

Animal Health and Welfare Issues Facing Organic Production Systems.

Simple SummaryThe demand for organically grown, animal derived produce is increasing due to a growing desire for consumer products that have minimal chemical inputs and high animal welfare standards. Evaluation of the scientific literature suggests that a major challenge facing organic animal production systems is the management and treatment of health-related issues. However, implementation of effective management practices can help organic animal producers achieve and maintain high standards of health and welfare, which is necessary to assure consumers that organic animal-based food and fibre has not only been produced with minimal or no chemical input, but under high standards of animal welfare.The demand for organically-grown produce is increasing worldwide, with one of the drivers being an expectation among consumers that animals have been farmed to a high standard of animal welfare. This review evaluates whether this expectation is in fact being met, by describing the current level of science-based knowledge of animal health and welfare in organic systems. The primary welfare risk in organic production systems appears to be related to animal health. Organic farms use a combination of management practices, alternative and complementary remedies and convenional medicines to manage the health of their animals and in many cases these are at least as effective as management practices employed by non-organic producers. However, in contrast to non-organic systems, there is still a lack of scientifically evaluated, organically acceptable therapeutic treatments that organic animal producers can use when current management practices are not sufficient to maintain the health of their animals. The development of such treatments are necessary to assure consumers that organic animal-based food and fibre has not only been produced with minimal or no chemical input, but under high standards of animal welfare.

The Supply Chain's Role in Improving Animal Welfare.

Simple SummaryThe ability of supply chains to deliver high(er) levels and standards of animal welfare is subject to two critical conditions: (a) the innovative and adaptive capacity of actors in the chain to respond to society’s demands; (b) consumers actually buying animal-friendly products. Unless citizens are willing to support suppliers who comply with high(er) standards, their votes for better animal welfare risk exporting poor animal welfare to other countries with less rigorous standards. The logic of market failure in the case of animal welfare points to the superiority of consumer subsidies over producer subsidies to deliver improved animal welfare.Supply chains are already incorporating citizen/consumer demands for improved animal welfare, especially through product differentiation and the associated segmentation of markets. Nonetheless, the ability of the chain to deliver high(er) levels and standards of animal welfare is subject to two critical conditions: (a) the innovative and adaptive capacity of the chain to respond to society’s demands; (b) the extent to which consumers actually purchase animal-friendly products. Despite a substantial literature reporting estimates of willingness to pay (WTP) for animal welfare, there is a belief that in practice people vote for substantially more and better animal welfare as citizens than they are willing to pay for as consumers. This citizen-consumer gap has significant consequences on the supply chain, although there is limited literature on the capacity and willingness of supply chains to deliver what the consumer wants and is willing to pay for. This paper outlines an economic analysis of supply chain delivery of improved standards for farm animal welfare in the EU and illustrates the possible consequences of improving animal welfare standards for the supply chain using a prototype belief network analysis.

The Prospect of Market-Driven Improvements in Animal Welfare: Lessons from the Case of Grass Milk in Denmark.

Simple SummaryIncreased consumption of animal welfare-friendly products is suggested as one way of addressing public worries about the welfare of farm animals. However, the factors that drive and limit markets for animal welfare-friendly products are poorly understood. Based on an analysis of market for grass milk in Denmark, we conclude that successful cases of market-driven improvements in animal welfare require the joint presence of a number of positive drivers as well as low consumption barriers.Citizens in many European countries urge that the welfare of farm animals should be improved. Policy-makers propose that this could, at least to some extent, be achieved through increased consumption of animal products produced under labeling schemes guaranteeing higher standards of animal welfare. Yet considerable uncertainties exist about the ability of the market to promote animal welfare. So far the consumption of most welfare-friendly products has been limited, and the impact of driving and limiting factors is poorly understood. Reviewing market studies, we identify the factors that have shaped the relatively successful market for grass milk in Denmark. We conclude that the positive drivers such as an appealing animal welfare attribute and animal welfare being bundled with other qualities are essentially the same as those operating in connection with less successful animal welfare-friendly products. It is therefore to be expected that other animal welfare-friendly food products marketed via “natural behaviors” in the farm animals will catch the interest of consumers. However, grass milk consumption has been supported by proper labeling, ready availability and low price premiums as well as multifaceted public support. This suggests that successful cases require the joint presence of a number of positive drivers as well as low consumption barriers.

Human-animal relationships in the Norwegian dairy goat industry: assessment of pain and provision of veterinary treatment (Part II)

AbstractStockpeoples’ ability to recognise pain in their livestock, and to respond appropriately, is of utmost importance for animal welfare. Assessment of pain is complex, and attitudes and empathy are thought to play a role in peoples’ responses to the sight of pain. In a separate paper we investigated the dimensionality of Norwegian dairy goat stockpeoples’ goat-oriented attitudes and empathy. This paper investigates how the stockpeople assess and manage pain and disease in goats. The interrelationships between pain perception and provision of veterinary attention were explored, as well as how these two measures are associated with demographics, attitudes and empathy. Pain assessment scores for individual conditions ranged across most of the picture-based pain assessment scale. Dystocia, gangrenous mastitis and the neurological form of caprine arthritis encephalitis were considered most painful. Linear regression showed that one attitude dimension was positively associated with mean pain assessment score (mPAS), while growing up on a goat farm, having farming as main income and having seen a large number of the conditions were negatively associated with mPAS. Cluster analysis on reported frequency of contacting veterinary surgeons for ten conditions revealed two distinct groups of stock-people. Logistic regression showed that females, older stockpeople and stockpeople who grew up in a rural district were significantly more likely to be in the group that more frequently contacted veterinary surgeons. We conclude that training of stockpeople needs to focus on evaluation and management of pain to ensure a high standard of animal welfare.

The Five Freedoms in the global animal agriculture market: Challenges and achievements as opportunities

This review intends to bring an overview of relevant challenges and accomplishments surrounding the farm animal welfare fi eld and identify gaps that, when fulfi lled, may lead to positive outcomes in the present, but especially for the future of the pork and poultry industries. It is not new to animal agriculture sectors, governments, animal protection organizations, and consumers that animal welfare concerns surrounding current industrialized animal production systems have increased within the last decade. Globalization, international trade, and dramatic increases in the demand for animal protein for decades to come may magnify these concerns from both practical and ethical perspectives and thus create a need for objective debates. Within this global scenario, a major challenge for all parties ought to be implementing a “clean, green, and ethical” animal agriculture, while guaranteeing that food is produced under high animal welfare standards. Sound and objective science must be the basis for establishing on-farm and slaughter standards seeking to promote better animal welfare. Currently, integrating these standards and guidelines may not be a priority for a cluster of leaders in animal production and even for policymakers, as changes are usually associated with signifi cant fi nancial and time investments. Hence, resistance arising from this confl ict may weaken opportunities for forthcoming implementation of science-based welfare-friendly production and slaughter practices. Some progress toward improving animal welfare has been observed in situations which these standards are either legislated, verifi ed under a third-party certifi cation program, or are a trade barrier by the importing market where the priority is likely economic benefi t (Promar International, 2008; Centner, 2010; Rayment et al., 2010). Direct enforcement and application of penalties for nonconformance to legislated animal care and treatment standards and policies may also be a challenge due to costs of putting infrastructure changes (building or retrofi tting) into practice and the lack of resources and trained professionals (Promar International, 2008; Rayment et al., 2010). Thus, in the authors’ opinions, one of the greatest challenges facing the scientifi c communities in the upcoming decades will be to uncover solutions while reconciling the need to safeguard animal welfare within a sustainable farm animal production system, and considering public and governmental deliberations for ethical treatment of animals. The readiness to overcome these challenges is highly dependent upon consideration of societal moral and ethical values and their infl uences in driving political and economic policy amendments in countries leading animal production. Two distinct economic and socio-political nations’ categories, that may or may not refl ect consumer general principles and concepts toward animal welfare, are witnessed globally. One category consists of industrialized developed countries, which are featured by a population that spends a minor portion of its household income on food, The Five Freedoms in the global animal agriculture market: Challenges and achievements as opportunities

Elimination of severe footrot from the Norwegian sheep population – A progress report

Norway was regarded to be free from footrot until the detection of Dichelobacter nodosus in a flock suffering from severe lameness in 2008. D. nodosus was subsequently shown to be prevalent throughout the country. However, virulent strains were only isolated from sheep in one out of 19 counties. Severe footrot has been diagnoses in a total of 97 sheep flocks. An elimination program was established, based on clinical examination, slaughter of selected animals, foot bathing with zinc sulphate, judicious use of clean pastures and ongoing clinical monitoring, with the aim of eliminating severe footrot. The elimination program has so far been carried out in 35 flocks with severe footrot and preliminary results indicate a success rate of 65–70%. The continued success of the program is important to ensure economic productivity and high standards of animal welfare.

Organic label as an identifier of environmentally related quality: A consumer choice experiment on beef in Italy

AbstractThis paper uses a hypothetical choice experiment to investigate Italian consumer preferences and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for organic, conventional and genetically modified (GM)-fed beef, utilizing intrinsic, search cues (price, color and visible fat) and extrinsic, credence cues. Data are gathered from three different locations in northern, central and southern Italy using a sequential Bayesian approach. Results showed that consumers attach higher value to organic meat. WTP for GM-fed beef, which is not yet sold in Italy, is well below current conventional beef prices. Organic beef is attractive to consumers because it is associated with higher animal welfare standards and environment-related issues (food miles and biodiversity preservation). No differences are found in marginal WTP estimates by gender, age, education, being a parent or having a higher level of knowledge about organic production. Ethical/environmental issues (credence cues) appear to be more relevant in explaining variation in WTP for organic beef than ordinary product characteristics (search cues).