Abstract

Welfare Quality (R) was the largest ever European research project on animal welfare. Here, we briefly describe some major achievements of Welfare Quality (R) and identify future research priorities, potential strategies and organisational structures to build on the outcomes. Achievements include: definition of principles and criteria of good welfare; development of standardised, primarily animal-based measures for each welfare criterion and their integration in an overall assessment model. Since Welfare Quality (R) could not answer all the questions we recommend: Continued development and refinement of the assessment systems and extension to new species. The development of automatic measures of welfare to reduce the duration of the assessment while still retaining its holistic nature. Exploration of potential implementation strategies across food chain actors. Establishment of an independent body to manage and update the assessment and information systems, support their implementation and inform and engage stakeholders.

Keywords

Animal welfare; information system; policy recommendations; public involvement; welfare assessment; welfare improvement

Published in

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science
2010, Volume: 60, number: 3, pages: 129-140
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS

SLU Authors

• Blokhuis, Harry

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture


UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064702.2010.523480

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/47832