ANIMAL-WELFARE - A HOLISTIC APPROACH

A plethora of behavioural, physiological, immunophysiological, product ion and health traits have been employed in measuring animal welfare. Most procedures have been developed to measure stress reactions. Caref ul interpretation is needed when considering individual measures and t heir association with animal well-being since too little is known abou t the physiological mechanisms and coping strategies involved in long- term stress responses. As an alternative animal welfare has been measu red by integrating several indices although problems arise in terms of weighing individual indicators. Other measures, such as prepathologic al states, that may be more closely associated with suffering or poor welfare have not been used to a great extent. It is suggested that a h olistic approach is taken when evaluating new housing systems for pigs with respect to animal welfare, which combines measurement of prepath ological states and stress reactions.