Scientists' assessment of the impact of housing and management on animal welfare (2001)

Anonymous

Abstract

In this article, we show that a broad consensus basis exists among welfare scientists concerning the assessment of farm animal welfare. .. Abnormal behavior[s] .. may indicate stress or some frustrated motivation, but they also may represent the animals' way of coping with causes of stress. However, there is consensus that abnormal behaviors probably do indicate that something is, or has been, seriously wrong in the animals' environment and that abnormal behaviors that result in physical damage to the animals, such as feather pecking in poultry and tail biting in pigs, are clearer indication of reduced welfare.