Concepts in Animal Welfare Foreword
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3rd edition Concepts in Animal Welfare Foreword Professor Donald M Broom Animal welfare is one of the key factors that influence people’s decisions about whether or not procedures or products are acceptable and sustainable. Purchasing habits are modified in order to avoid poor welfare in animals and retail companies set standards as a result of consumer pressure with this aim. As a consequence, consumers and those involved in production and sales want accurate scientific information about the subject. This course will help veterinary students, who are expected to be able to advise on animal welfare in their professional capacity, as well as informing those who simply want to find out about animal welfare. This course material is presented by a leading animal protection society and contains good quality information from animal welfare scientists, offered in an unbiased way. The first modules of the course explain why the study of animal welfare is important, and what the terms used in the scientific discipline mean. Health is a key aspect of welfare so the links between welfare and disease are discussed. It is important to understand that the biology of an individual affects its needs, and hence its welfare. Careful consideration needs to be taken to include natural behaviour wherever it will improve welfare as some natural factors may lead to poor welfare. There follows a series of modules about how to assess welfare, both for those carrying out research on the subject and for farmers, veterinary inspectors or other animal users. Those who wish to know more about terms and assessment than can be provided in this course can read further on the subject but the major issues are introduced here. In the next set of modules, the ethical concepts that underlie issues relevant to animal usage are briefly explained. After this, an extensive series of examples of welfare issues in the farming of animals is presented. This includes the rapidly expanding area of fish farming as, in many countries, fish species are the second most commonly farmed animals after chickens. Housing systems, transport and slaughter procedures all have effects on the welfare of animals and detailed evidence for this is provided. The welfare concepts and methodologies are useful for all animals, so further modules deal with companion animals, working animals, laboratory animals and those used in entertainment. In addition, human-animal interactions and the role of the veterinarian are considered. The material in these modules is international in nature and will be of value to all who teach the subject, as well as to those starting to learn about it. Professor Broom is Colleen Macleod Professor of Animal Welfare at the Centre for Animal Welfare and Anthrozoology of the University of Cambridge Concepts in Animal Welfare 3rd Edition © 2013 1 Messages of support World Organisation for Animal Health Dr Bernard Vallat It is my pleasure to commend to you this impressive teaching resource, Concepts in Animal Welfare, produced by the World Animal Protection. Animal welfare is a complex, multi-faceted public policy issue that includes important scientific, ethical, economic and political dimensions. Its growing importance to society means that animal welfare must be addressed in a scientifically credible manner. It is essential to engage with stakeholders on the development and implementation of animal welfare standards, to ensure that cultural and religious sensibilities are taken into account, as well as economic issues. This latest edition includes a module specifically about the work of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in relation to animal welfare. Since it was created, the OIE has played a key role in its capacity as the sole international reference organisation for animal health and zoonoses, enjoying established international recognition and benefiting from direct collaboration with the Veterinary Services of all its Member Countries. Animal welfare was first identified as a priority in the OIE Strategic Plan 2001-2005. At this time, the OIE was mandated by its Members to elaborate standards and guidelines on animal welfare, reaffirming that animal health is a key component of animal welfare. Now in its third edition, Concepts in Animal Welfare is well recognised as a very valuable resource for supporting the education and engagement of new students to this subject, who will very likely contribute to future developments of our animal welfare standards. Dr Vallat is Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Concepts in Animal Welfare 3rd Edition © 2014 2 World Veterinary Association The World Veterinary Association (WVA) recognises and supports the role veterinarians play in delivering services that enhance the welfare of animals, participating in developing animal welfare standards and providing community leadership in attaining an appropriate state of welfare for all animals. To accomplish these objectives, specific, comprehensive and visible undergraduate education in the field of animal welfare is an essential part of the training of all veterinarians. To this end, WVA recognises World Animal Protection’s Concepts in Animal Welfare as a valuable resource. Federation of Veterinarians of Europe The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) believes veterinarians have a professional and ethical responsibility to use their scientific knowledge and skills to protect the health and the welfare of animals. All veterinarians should educate and influence animal owners, caretakers, handlers, and policy makers to protect and improve animal welfare. Veterinarians must not only work to implement existing animal welfare standards, but must also contribute to making sure these standards are continually improved. To accomplish these objectives, all veterinary schools should produce graduates who are educated, trained and competent in the topics of animal welfare science, veterinary ethics and law, as well as the wider ethical issues involving the use of animals by society. In the past decade, we have seen the multi-disciplinary subject of animal welfare become a rapidly evolving component in the veterinary curriculum. However little consensus exists on how animal welfare should be addressed in terms of teaching method, content, time and place, and assessment of knowledge and competence. However, several well-developed electronic tools are appearing to assist educators. World Animal Protection’s Concepts in Animal Welfare is an excellent example of a very useful and publicly available resource. It is also an example of the benefits of cross-sector working: the initial idea and the earlier editions were the result of collaboration between a veterinary faculty, the Department of Clinical Veterinary Science at the University of Bristol and an animal welfare organisation, World Animal Protection. The FVE recognises Concepts in Animal Welfare as a valuable resource and advises all to explore and enjoy the different modules. Concepts in Animal Welfare 3rd Edition © 2014 3 The third edition of the World Animal Protection Concepts in Animal Welfare resource has also been endorsed by the following veterinary associations: The SEAVSA Committee Members have agreed to FAVA councillors have agreed to support the resource, “ support the third edition of CAW Syllabus. The previous “ the 3rd edition of CAW. This resource is such a great edition of this teaching resource has been intensively used contribution among the veterinary education not only for animal welfare teaching of veterinary students in most in Asia but also globally. of SEAVSA members. Furthermore language translation ” of the syllabus...should contribute significantly to the enhancement of our veterinary students’ understanding of animal welfare from point of views of science, ethics as well as law and regulation. ” Take this opportunity to express the satisfaction we feel Recognising that veterinarians have to play a key role “ when we see “Concepts in Animal Welfare” by World “ in guarding the principles of animal welfare in addition to Animal Protection published in its third edition. The first their responsibility of taking care of the health of animals, two editions... have been a useful reference tool for the Commonwealth Veterinary Association endorses the students who are currently studying to be Veterinarians. 3rd edition of Concepts in Animal Welfare produced by World Animal Protection has produced a publication the World Animal Protection for introduction in the school with great content and as president of the Mexican curricula of veterinary education. This tool has been well Association of Schools and Colleges of Veterinary recognised as a very valuable resource in supporting Medicine I am pleased to sign support World Animal education and in engaging undergraduate veterinary Protection and institutions involved to continue to increase students. [CAW is] also a very valuable resource in awareness in animal welfare. ” equipping veterinary educators with the skills to teach the subject effectively.” Amvbeeba endorses World Animal Protection We take this opportunity to affirm favourable institutional “CAW resource. “ support for World Animal Protection. The emergence of ” this innovative edition of “Concepts in Animal Welfare” represents a teaching tool of great relevance and scope for the training of Brazilian veterinarians and animal scientists, since these professionals are key players in maintaining health and improving the welfare of animals. ” Concepts in Animal