Animal welfare - Research Paper Example

ey use physiological measures such as plasma cortisol, endorphins, and the heart rate to determine the ability of the animal to cope with the environment. Seeing animal welfare in terms of the body has limitations such as (a) environment and genetics can create wanted physical outcomes but the animal’s mental state is in jeopardy, (b) some physical parameters such as plasma cortisol and heart rate are difficult to interpret because they can be influenced by the negative and positive experiences (Hewson 496).

Animal welfare thus integrates the state of the animal’s body and the feelings. Feelings such as fear and frustration form the basis of the animal welfare; if the animal is feeling well then it is faring well. Feelings in animal welfare measures the outcomes like behavior; behavioral outcomes entail things such as the willingness to work and behavioral signs such as frustration and fear (Hewson 496). One of the biggest problems in the animal welfare is how animals are transported and slaughtered.

For many years people have been transporting and slaughtering animals. Animals have provided everything mankind has needed like food, and clothing. The modes of transport and slaughter have been inhumane with some of the people subjecting the animals into situations that were unbearable. The animals are left or die in devastating situations; terror, exhaustion, and injury are the outcome of such brutality (Council of Europe 55). It is very difficult and tiresome to convince large animals to go into a certain direction particularly up in a ramp.

On the other hand, smaller animals such as the chicken are not exceptional and they can be frustrating. Bone fractures and bruises are common when the meat birds are being harvested for slaughter; they are usually grabbed by the legs and a number of them get injured or bruised in the process (Spedding 51). The major problems in the slaughtering of animals are the lack of pre-slaughter stunning in kosher (schechita) and