How welfare inputs affect farm animal welfare???

Animal welfare on farms is determined by the resources, environment, and management practices provided to the animals. These are known as welfare inputs, and they directly influence the animals’ physical health, mental state, and natural behaviour.

Definition of Welfare Inputs

• Welfare inputs = the conditions, resources, and management factors provided to the animals.
• They are external influences under human control that affect animal well-being.
• Examples: housing system, feeding regime, ventilation, space allowance, handling methods, health care.

Types of Welfare Inputs

a. Resource-based inputs

• Physical environment: housing, space, flooring, ventilation, bedding, lighting.
• Feeding and watering systems: quality, availability, accessibility.

b. Management-based inputs

• Human handling and stockmanship.
• Transport, slaughter procedures, health checks, veterinary care.

c. System design inputs

• Production system (intensive vs. extensive).
• Grouping strategies (mixing, stocking density).
• Breed selection and genetic management.

Effects of Welfare Inputs on Animal Welfare

a. Physical Health

• Positive Inputs: Good housing, ventilation, clean bedding, and proper nutrition prevent diseases and injuries.
• Negative Inputs: Poor flooring causes lameness; overcrowding leads to injuries and higher disease transmission.

b. Mental State

• Positive Inputs: Calm handling and provision of enrichment reduce fear and stress.
• Negative Inputs: Rough handling, isolation, or poor environment cause anxiety, fear, aggression, and abnormal behaviour.

c. Natural Behaviour Expression

• Positive Inputs: Sufficient space, group housing, access to outdoors allow animals to perform natural behaviours (grazing, rooting, dust bathing).
• Negative Inputs: Confinement and barren environments lead to abnormal behaviours such as stereotypies (pacing, bar-biting).

Relationship Between Inputs and Outputs

• Inputs = Causes (management, housing, feeding, handling).
• Outputs = Indicators (animal-based measures such as health, behaviour, productivity).

Example:

• Input: Overcrowded housing → Output: Increased aggression, injuries, poor growth.
• Input: Clean water supply → Output: Improved hydration, productivity, and welfare.

Key Principle (Welfare Quality Framework)

Good welfare can be ensured by optimizing inputs in four major areas:

• Feeding (access to sufficient feed and water).
• Housing (comfort and safe environment).
• Health (prevention of injury and disease).
• Behaviour (opportunity for natural behaviour, reduced fear and stress).