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Research article2010Peer reviewed

The Welfare Quality (R) project and beyond: Safeguarding farm animal well-being

Blokhuis, Harry; Veissier, I.; Miele, M.; Jones, B.

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

    Sustainable Development Goals

    SDG2 Zero hunger
    SDG3 Good health and well-being

    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