The Animal Welfare Toolbox

Animal Welfare Toolbox 2

An Initiative of The University of Queensland

Start your discovery about Animal Welfare by understanding the Fundamentals

The tools below have been designed to give you an understanding of the fundamental concepts and definitions of animal welfare. 

Are you new to animal welfare science? This short animation video will provide a useful overview of what animal welfare is, why it is important, and how it can be measured. This video will be useful for anyone interested in animal welfare or for teachers/educators discussing animal welfare in their courses.

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

With this interactive tool, learn how to provide animals with choice and control, and how this is linked to predictability, for example in positive reinforcement training. Watch a short video showing monkeys interacting with an environmental enrichment device, and test your understanding with the questions. This tool provides suggestions to improve the choices, control, and predictability in animals’ lives to promote better animal welfare.

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

This infographic explains what boredom is and what consequences it can have, along with potential signs to watch out for in order to identify it in animals. It is particularly aimed at those involved in animal agriculture, but applies to people keeping other types of animals such as companion or lab animals as well. This infographic can be used to spread awareness and get people interested in ways to alleviate boredom if they see it in their animals.

This infographic highlights the common welfare challenges that sheep can experience in extensive and intensive systems. It can be used to help educate people on how different aspects of sheep management can impact sheep welfare and make them more mindful of where welfare challenges could arise.

Why do we care about the welfare of animals, but not the welfare of plants, bacteria, or rocks? In our view, the crucial distinction is that animals are sentient. Sentience is the capacity to have feelings, such as pain and pleasure.

This tools discusses evidence of sentience in animals with consideration of the welfare of animals.

This tool, useful to those new to the laying hen industry, provides a brief introduction to laying hen behavioural needs and the primary welfare issues associated with different types of  housing systems. The tool gives a general indication of management practices that may improve welfare of hens in cage-free systems.

Fish are overlooked in animal welfare legislation and in practice. However, research has shown that their cognitive capacities and associated hardware match terrestrial vertebrates and ought to be considered on equal terms.  This tool presents evidence that fishes are sentient and have the capacity to suffer. There is an urgent need to address their welfare needs.

 

Keep an Eagle Eye Out for New Tools!

Animal Rights

...COMING SOON!

Watch this space for new tools on the Fundamentals of Animal Welfare being developed by animal scientists from around the world!

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