DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE
RESEARCH & EXTENSION

Agriculture and Natural Resources

University of Arkansas System

FSA8014

Animal Welfare Basics
Yvonne Vizzier Thaxton
Professor

F. Dustan Clark
Professor andExtension Veterinarian

Animal welfare or wellbeing has
become a controversial and confusing
topic. The need to prevent animal
abuse has long been recognized.
However, in recent years it hasreceived more attention than everbefore. In the past, issues of abusehave most commonly been focused on
pet animals like dogs and cats. Morerecently, farm animals have become afocus. Television shows concerning theenforcement of anti­animal cruelty
laws have also resulted in awarenessof a wide variety of issues surround­ing the care of animals, as haveundercover videos showing abuse offood animals. The relationshipbetween animal abuse and violent
crime has been demonstrated and is
now a tool being used by law enforce­
ment in the United States. All of thishas produced increased scrutiny ofmodern animal agriculture.

The History
In the early part of the 20thcentury about 98 percent of the U.S.
population was directly or indirectly
involved in agriculture. In contrast,
less than 2 percent of today’s popula­tion has any contact with agriculture,and fewer than 1 percent work inagriculture. This shift has produced
a population with little specific knowl­edge of food production, resulting inmany misconceptions.

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In the first half of the 20thcentury there was a shift from farm­ing with virtually no mechanization to
the advent of mechanization in theform of tractors, harvesters, plantersand other equipment powered byengines rather than animals. For
example, in 1900 there were no trac­
tors in the U.S., but by 1960 there
were 4.7 million tractors. That change
allowed farmers to prepare and carefor more acreage than ever before,
leading to expansion of the size offarms and a reduction in the numberof people that it took to operate thosefarms. The average size of U.S. farms
increased, and at the same time, thenumber of farmers decreased. It
became more difficult to profit on
the small farms that could not afford
the addition of mechanization. Atthe same time, this mechanization
improved the lives of the work
animals and allowed many improve­ments in the care of food animals.
Also during this period of time,science made many discoveries in theprevention and treatment of disease,nutritional requirements of humans
and animals and a greater under­
standing of genetics. All of this new
knowledge led to the development ofcrops with higher yields, drought andUniversity of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperatingdisease tolerance along with vaccines and improved
nutrition and genetics. These changes further added
to the efficiency of farming operations allowing indi­vidual operations to produce more food using lessland, water and energy, thus reducing the cost ofproduction.

3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease – byprevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Changes in animal agriculture such as housing
animals year­round became possible, making produc­tion more efficient and thus sustainable. The samechanges also produced a greater awareness of thefactors affecting the optimum environment for thevarious animals and led to more interest in under­
standing their behavior.

5. Freedom from fear and distress – by ensuringconditions and treatment which avoid mentalsuffering.

Animal Welfare on the FarmAs knowledge of behavior increased, so did
understanding of the needs of animals. Increased
efficiency and expansion after World War II alsopresented challenges. In the United Kingdom thepublication of the book Animal Machines: The New
Factory Farming Industry by Ruth Harrison in
1964 led to an investigation into animal agriculture.
This 1965 investigation, led by Professor Roger
Brambell, produced a report that included recommen­
dations concerning natural behaviors and appropriate
facilities for animal production. It included a recom­
mendation that facilities for these animals should
allow the animals to stand up, lie down, turn around,groom themselves and stretch their limbs. This list
was later refined into what is now universally known
as the “Five Freedoms” which have been adopted byanimal care groups throughout the UK and North
America as well as other countries and the OIE(World Organization for Animal Health).

The Five Freedoms
1. Freedom from thirst and hunger – by readyaccess to fresh water and a diet to maintain full
health and vigor.
2. Freedom from discomfort – by providing anappropriate environment including shelter and acomfortable resting area.

4. Freedom to express normal behavior – byproviding sufficient space, proper facilities andcompany of the animal’s own kind.

There is little controversy surrounding the first
three freedoms as anyone who expects good produc­tion from their animals agrees that these are basicrequirements. The last two are less widely accepted
as they are more difficult to define.
The most common issue with “normal behavior” isthe definition. Who decides? For example, is dust
bathing by chickens normal behavior in an environ­ment without exposure to ecto­parasites, such asmites? Some horses sleep standing, others recline, sowhich is normal? At this point, it is virtually impossi­
ble to get everyone to agree on some issues. On theother hand, there are behaviors that are widely
recognized as normal, such as crowing in roosters
or barking in dogs. Scientists who study animal
behavior (ethologists) are continuing research in anattempt to determine which behaviors are necessary
behaviors for specific groups of animals.
Stress and fear can also be difficult to determine.
Sudden loud noises can produce a fearful reaction inmost animals including humans. Without appropriate
exposure to humans, many domesticated animals
seem to experience fear in the presence of humans.
Stress can also be caused by being too hot or cold.
Illness is definitely a stress as the immune system’sactions produce unpleasant side effects such as fever.
As our understanding of these animals and theirneeds increase, there is likely to be changes insystems for housing them. These systems may bevery different from what we now consider the ideal.
Good animal welfare improves efficiency of theoperation and is the right thing to do.

Printed by University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service Printing Services.

YVONNE VIZZIER THAXTON, PhD, is professor and directorof the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing at the University ofArkansas, Fayetteville. F. DUSTAN CLARK, DVM, PhD, isprofessor, Extension veterinarian and associate Poultry Center
director of Extension with the University of Arkansas Divisionof Agriculture, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science at theUniversity of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
FSA8014­PD­1­14N

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Director, Cooperative Extension Service, University ofArkansas. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its
programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, nationalorigin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status,or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative
Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.