Animal Rights – Animal Welfare: A Scientist's Assessment

Abstract

The question of animal rights is discussed in relation to man's evolutionary history as a predator and exploiter of other species. It is suggested that, providing man attempts to eliminate suffering from the animals with which he is dealing, there is no reason why he should not exploit them. However, decisions on the degree to which, and the manner in which, we exploit animals are ethical decisions that should be made by society in general, but only when it has a knowledge of the facts. Some definitions of animal welfare are given, and the need for objectivity in debates on welfare is emphasized. Although it may be possible in the future to gain some insight into the subjective feelings of domestic fowl, including whether or not they are suffering mentally, at the present time the scientist is restricted to producing factual evidence on their health, production, physiology, biochemistry, and behavior. Three methods for assessing the welfare of poultry using behavior are described and discussed. One method is to look for unusual or inappropriate behavioral changes and show independently that they are indicative of reduced welfare. A second method is to allow the bird to choose its own environment and assume that it will choose in the best interests of its welfare. A third method is to subject birds experimentally to stressful situations such as deprivation, frustration, or fright, observe their behavior, and compare it to that which occurs under commercial conditions. To date this method has been the most successful in helping to assess the welfare of poultry.