OutcomeOutcome--based welfare based welfare indicatorsindicatorsLinda KeelingLinda KeelingSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Traditionally vets, farmers and scientists have focussed on the animal

Traditionally legislators have focussed mainly on resources• Legislation is a minimum level• Systems with a too high risk of poor welfare are

banned

Traditionally legislators have focussed mainly on resources• Legislation is a minimum level• Systems with a too high risk of poor welfare are

banned• More difficult to legislate for good welfare, as there

are many possible variations

Welfare is a characteristic of the individual animal

The input-based approach to welfare assessment

The outcome-based approach to welfare assessment

We need a sensible combination of both types of measures

INPUTINPUT

Resources available

(resource- based measures)

Management practices

(management -based measures)

OUTCOME

Indicate the animal’s welfare (welfare indicator)

OUTCOME

Indicate the animal’s welfare (welfare indicator)

Response of animal

(Animal-based measures)

INPUTINPUT

Resources available

(resource- based measures)

Management practices

(management -based measures)

Hazards Consequences

We are familiar with resource and management-based measures, but

which outcome-based measure should be chosen? And how do we

choose them?

It depends on the reason for the assessment• Farm management and advice

• The ones that are useful and/or save money

It depends on the reason for the assessment• Farm management and advice

• The ones that are useful and/or save money

• Breeding company • To reduce a problem

It depends on the reason for the assessment• Farm management and advice

• The ones that are useful and/or save money

• Breeding company • To reduce a problem

• Certification scheme• A balanced selection of

different measures

An example of a welfare outcome indicator • Pododermatitis / foot-pad dermatitis / “ammonia burns”.• A type of contact dermatitis:

• Discoloration of the skin, • Hyperkeratosis,• Erosions, and later ulcers, develop.

• Found in broiler chickens and turkeys• Collaboration between Swedish

authority and broiler industry • Linked to legislation and affects

stocking density (ie economy)

INPUTINPUT OUTCOMEOUTCOME

Food pad dermatitis

Air

Water

Feed

INPUT OUTCOME

Food pad dermatitis

Air

Water

Feed

benchmarking

3-point scale

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Pe

rcen

tage

(%)

Year after start of programme

Prevalence of severe foot-pad dermatitis in Swedish broilers

1994-2005

0

2

1

Automatic recording at slaughter

Welfare Quality project

Welfare Quality project

Welfare Quality project

Body condition score

Welfare Quality project

Good housing

Good

health

Comfort around resting

Ease of movement

No disease

No painful management procedures

No injuries

• Number stopping• Number turning back

Photos: A. Velarde, T. Grandin

European Food Safety Authority working on use of animal-based measures

Welfare outcome indicators should be selected to address the specific objectives of the assessment

A ‘toolbox’

The ’tool box’

Science-based measures • According to their ‘essential characteristics’

• Validity• Known specificity• Known reliability• Robustness

• There may be several measures giving information on the same welfare outcome that vary in cost, feasibility, skill needed to take them etc

• EFSA (2012) The use of animal-based measures to assess the welfare of dairy cattle.

• EFSA (2012) The use of animal-based measures to assess the welfare of pigs

Benchmarking and setting thresholds

Desirable measures (depending on purpose of assessment)

Core measures (always recorded – standardised)

Interesting measures (to be developed further)

Development of outcome-based measures should be an ongoing process

Outcome-based welfare indicators• Science-based, common-sense approach to

assessing welfare• Measures placed in the ‘tool box’ according to well

established principles (valid, reliable, etc)• Measures are selected from it according to the

purpose of the assessment.