Welfare in Poultry - Report Example

Welfare in Poultry Name of Student: Name of Course: Name of Instructor: Date of Submission: Welfare in Poultry Welfare is usually used to refer to the state of sole entity with reference to the environment. Generally, welfare can be measured hence making it possible to enforce welfare measures. There are various kinds of welfare depending on the subjects for instances children, elderly, women and more recently animal welfare. It can be acknowledged that there has been an increased focus on animal welfare in the recent time. The many number of animal right organizations which have been set up around the world is a manifestation of the attention which has been given to this field. There are various concepts of animal welfare. Two of the main concepts of animal welfare are animal needs and animal freedoms (Carenzi & Verga, 2007). In order to enforce animal welfare, various countries have various legislations which aim at ensuring that animal welfare in upheld. Generally, good welfare is related to the well being of an animal while bad welfare is related to suffering. The following essay will give a deep insight into key concepts in animal welfare and will use poultry as a reference. Historically, man has been keeping and rearing animals. The practice of domestication of animals varies from region to region. According to animal welfare requirements, a person should be able to provide an animal with an ideal environment which does not affect its life negatively. Animal welfare follows the thought that man has removed the animals from their natural environments; hence must be able to provide them with an environment which is ideal for their survival (Broom, 2010). As outlined earlier, animal welfare is closely related to suffering. In fact, the aim of animal welfare is to reduce animal suffering to the minimal possible limits. This makes suffering to be one of the main measures of animal welfare. Animal welfare is all about providing them with basic needs and freedoms; hence making fulfillment of animal needs and freedoms the key measure of animal welfare. One of the frameworks which is used to measure animal welfare is the ‘5 freedoms’. The five freedoms framework was established by the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) and was aimed at providing guidelines on animal welfare (Farm Animal Welfare Council, 2013). The freedoms are meant to protect animals from unwarranted suffering on the farm, during transportation, at the slaughter house of at the market. The freedoms provide standards for measurement of animal welfare (World Animal Net, 2010). One of the freedoms of animals with respect to animal welfare is hunger and thirst. On this freedom, it is outlined that an animal should have access to fresh water and food. Narrowing down on the freedom, the food must be specific to the species of animal in context; not providing a donkey with meat. Taking an example of poultry, the chicken must have access to clean water and sufficient food so at maintain good vigor and health. The second freedom is freedom from discomfort. On this freedom, an animal should be provided with an appropriate housing which does not cause discomfort to it. The measure of animal welfare in this freedom is the degree of discomfort. On this point, it can be acknowledged that more and more farmers are focused on increasing their return on investment hence overstocking animals in a unit shelter. This leads to discomfort for the animals which is unacceptable according to the animal welfare. This is specifically so with poultry farming where a large number of chicken are placed in a small shelter hence depriving them off the freedom from discomfort. Moreover, freedom from discomfort also focuses on building shelters according to recommended standards. For this reason, the standard and size of animal shelter are used as a key measure of an animal’s welfare. Another freedom of an animal is from pain, disease of injury. This freedom is focused on ensuring that animals are free from suffering related to pain, disease or injury. On this point, it is recommended that animal owners should enact measures which prevent, diagnose rapidly and treat animals. In some countries, it is recommended that farmers and animal owners should keep medical records for the animals; a manifestation of their commitment to providing animals freedoms from injury, pain and disease. Giving a look at poultry, it can be acknowledged that they are often subjected to pain in the transit, market and slaughter. There is a common trend to handle chicken with their head down during their transit; a trend which breaches their freedom from pain. It is expected that chicken be transported in crates or small cartons for the case of chicks instead of handling them from their legs (Barnett, Edge, Thomson, Mackenzie, Sansom, Kite 2008). Therefore, the manner of transporting animals is a measure of animal welfare. In addition to this there are specific conditions for the slaughter of animals (Animal Welfare Approved, 2012). The conventional traditional methods of cutting their throat are no longer acceptable according to animal welfare requirements. This brings into context the preparation of ‘halal’ a gastronomy requirement for Muslims where an animal is bled to its death. This method of slaughtering animals is one which inflicts a lot of pain and suffering on the animal; hence labeled unacceptable according to animal welfare. In line with this freedom, there are specific requirements for the slaughter of chickens by strangling them; a method which inflicts lesser pain on the hence conforming to the animal welfare requirements. Another measure of animal welfare is freedom to express normal behavior. Normal behavior is expressed in the ability of an animal to live a natural life or a life close to natural. Normal behavior with respect to poultry includes flapping wings, perching while sleeping and rolling themselves in the sand. In order to enable chickens express normal behavior, a farmer should provide them with a proper shelter and appropriate space in addition to putting them in the company of the animals of their own kind (Keeling, 2010). It is common to find farmers who have kept chicken in the same place with ducks, geese, turkey and other animals such as goats and sheep. This does not give the chicken a chance to express their normal behaviors since they are not kept with animals of their own kind. Normal reproduction and mating is part of the normal behavior which an animal should have freedom to. On this point, the crucial aspect of bestiality crops up. In the wake of increased sexual activities between humans and animals, there has been a dire need for animal welfare organizations to come up with measures to counter the abnormal deed which does not take into consideration animal welfare. In addition to this, it is against animal rights to subject them to artificial a reproduction system which does not give them an ability to reproduce normally. This includes such things as genetically modification of organisms. This crucial topic has been subject of much discussion in commercial chicken farming around world. Broilers are normally reared for meat proposers and they are rarely given a chance to produce themselves. On the other hand, layers are reared for eggs only and are rarely allowed to mate. The reproduction of chicken has been taken to hatcheries where incubators and other machinery have taken over the role of the chicken in their reproduction cycle. Although the move is acceptable from a commercial perspective, it is against animal welfare. From the discussion above, it can be acknowledged that the ability of an animal to express its normal behavior is measure of animal welfare (Carenzi, & Verga, 2009). The fifth freedom of animals which is used as a measure of animal welfare is freedom from distress and fear (Carenzi, & Verga, 2009). This freedom is aimed at ensuring that the animals are subjected to mental suffering because of the way they are treated. This freedom cuts across all the activities and processes involved in the rearing, transportation, marketing and slaughtering. From the discussion above, it can be acknowledged that the freedom of animals’ framework is a good measure of animal welfare. Another framework used to measure is the animal needs framework. The framework has a close relationship to animal freedoms discussed above. Animal needs are divided into biological and physiological needs (Fraser & Broom, 1997). Environmental needs are those needs that pertain to the physical situation in which an animal lives in. These include elements such as housing, hygiene, transport and breeding. According o the needs model, the owner of an animal should provide it with an appropriate environment for its good health and growth. Giving an example of ducks, a farmer is supposed to provide them with a pond / muddy environment which enables them to pad; hence providing them with an opportunity live a normal life. The physiological needs are focused on the mental and behavioral requirements of an animal. This crucial aspect is also related to the communication between animals and human beings. On this point instance of using excessive violence against the animals which has a substantial impact on the psychology of the animals is considered to be against the requirements of animal welfare. In addition to this, activities which has adverse effects on the reproduction systems, processes or those which interfere with the genetic makeup of an organism are discouraged. From the above discussion, it can be seen that the degree of provision of basic needs to an animal is a measure of animal welfare. The last framework which is used in the measurement of animal welfare is the comprehensive approach which was proposed (Dockes & Kling- Eveilland, 2006). The comprehensive approach has four main aspects which are used as a measure of animal welfare. The first issue is technical and biological aspects. On these issues, the approach proposes that animal welfare should be analyses with respect to the ability of the owners to provide them with appropriate freedoms in addition to enabling the animals deal with future environmental challenges. The second issue is with respect to the regulations which ensure that a species is placed in an environment which is compatible with its specific biological needs. Thirdly, animal welfare is measured with respect to philosophical needs of an animal. On this point, the status of an animal in a society is considered whereby it is required that an animal be treated as a sensitive being which has emotions just like human beings. The last measure of animal welfare is communication whereby the interaction between the owner and the animal is taken into consideration. Taking an example of poultry farming, it is expected that the farmer should not scare the chicken by using conventional methods such as battering them. The above frameworks provide ways in which animal welfare can be measured. Over the essay, special references have been made to chicken farming. This section of the essay will analyse the battery cage system which is used for layers around the world. Battery cages are birds cages in which layers are placed in. There are no standards as to the number of chicken which should be placed in a cage and neither are specifications about the size of the cage (Greg, John & Paul 2012). The battery cage system has been embraced by farmers owing to its ability to increase efficiencies in layers farming hence increasing profitability. However, battery cage systems have been associated with a lot of criticism owing to their lack of consideration of animal rights (Sara & Ian, 2012). Owing to the lack of specifications, the chicken is normally hurdled in large numbers in cages where they do not have exposure to natural environment. They are not able to do such things as flapping their wings or moving around, something which has been associated with high stress levels. This explains the legislative measures which are being taken up by national and local authorities in various countries around the world so as to bring about a sense animal welfare in layers farming. The systems have already been banned or standardized in parts of USA, Europe and Australia. From this, it can be acknowledged that the measurement of chicken welfare has been done with respect to the three frameworks discussed earlier. In conclusion, it can be appreciated that this essay has been successful in giving an in depth discussion on animal rights. It was outlined that there is need for the animal owners to provide them with a good environment thus providing them with a chance to develop normally. It was seen that animal welfare could be measured by the use of various frameworks. The first fare work is the five animal freedoms which include freedom from hunger and thirst, from pain, disease of injury, to express normal behavior and from distress and fear. The animal needs and the comprehensive frameworks also provide a measure for animal welfare. It was also identified that the battery cage system which is used for rearing layers has a negative impact on animal welfare; hence the great fuss about its ability to uphold animal welfare. From the essay, it can be concluded that it is possible to measure the animal welfare. References Animal Welfare Approved, (2012). Slaughter Guidelines for Poultry, Retrieved on 28th October 2013 from http://www.animalwelfareapproved.org/standards/slaughter-poultry/ Broom, D., (2010). Animal Welfare: Concepts and Measurement, Journal of Animal Science, 69 (1); 4165- 4175 Barnett, L., Edge, E., Thomson, L., Mackenzie, M., Sansom, G., & Kite, V., (2008). National Animal Welfare Standards for the Chicken Meat Industry, The Standards, Australian Poultry CRC Pty Ltd, 1-31 Carenzi, C., & Verga, M., (2009). Animal Welfare: Review of the Scientific Concept and Definition, Ital.J.Anim.Sci. 8(1); 21-30 Dockès, C., Kling-Eveillard, F., 2006. Farmers and Advisers’ Representations Of Animals And Animal Welfare. Livest. Sci. 103 (1); 243-249. Fraser, F., & Broom, B., (1997). Farm Animal Behavior and Welfare. CAB International, London, UK. Farm Animal Welfare Council, (2013). Five Freedoms, Farm Animal Welfare Council, Retrieved on 28th October 2013 from http://www.fawc.org.uk/freedoms.htm Greg C. , John, B., & Paul, H., (2012). The Importance Of Pre-Laying Behavior And Nest Boxes For Laying Hen Welfare: A Review, Animal Production Science, 52(7); 398 - 405 Keeling, L., (2010). Measuring Farm Animal Welfare Objectively And Its Implications For Trade, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 1-14 Sara ,S., & Ian , D., (2012). An HSUS Report: A Comparison of the Welfare of Hens in Battery Cages and Alternative Systems, The Humane Society of The United States, 1-28 World Animal Net, (2010). What is Animal Welfare? Animal Welfare in Context; 1-7 Read More

One of the freedoms of animals with respect to animal welfare is hunger and thirst. On this freedom, it is outlined that an animal should have access to fresh water and food. Narrowing down on the freedom, the food must be specific to the species of animal in context; not providing a donkey with meat. Taking an example of poultry, the chicken must have access to clean water and sufficient food so at maintain good vigor and health. The second freedom is freedom from discomfort. On this freedom, an animal should be provided with an appropriate housing which does not cause discomfort to it.

The measure of animal welfare in this freedom is the degree of discomfort. On this point, it can be acknowledged that more and more farmers are focused on increasing their return on investment hence overstocking animals in a unit shelter. This leads to discomfort for the animals which is unacceptable according to the animal welfare. This is specifically so with poultry farming where a large number of chicken are placed in a small shelter hence depriving them off the freedom from discomfort. Moreover, freedom from discomfort also focuses on building shelters according to recommended standards.

For this reason, the standard and size of animal shelter are used as a key measure of an animal’s welfare. Another freedom of an animal is from pain, disease of injury. This freedom is focused on ensuring that animals are free from suffering related to pain, disease or injury. On this point, it is recommended that animal owners should enact measures which prevent, diagnose rapidly and treat animals. In some countries, it is recommended that farmers and animal owners should keep medical records for the animals; a manifestation of their commitment to providing animals freedoms from injury, pain and disease.

Giving a look at poultry, it can be acknowledged that they are often subjected to pain in the transit, market and slaughter. There is a common trend to handle chicken with their head down during their transit; a trend which breaches their freedom from pain. It is expected that chicken be transported in crates or small cartons for the case of chicks instead of handling them from their legs (Barnett, Edge, Thomson, Mackenzie, Sansom, Kite 2008). Therefore, the manner of transporting animals is a measure of animal welfare.

In addition to this there are specific conditions for the slaughter of animals (Animal Welfare Approved, 2012). The conventional traditional methods of cutting their throat are no longer acceptable according to animal welfare requirements. This brings into context the preparation of ‘halal’ a gastronomy requirement for Muslims where an animal is bled to its death. This method of slaughtering animals is one which inflicts a lot of pain and suffering on the animal; hence labeled unacceptable according to animal welfare.

In line with this freedom, there are specific requirements for the slaughter of chickens by strangling them; a method which inflicts lesser pain on the hence conforming to the animal welfare requirements. Another measure of animal welfare is freedom to express normal behavior. Normal behavior is expressed in the ability of an animal to live a natural life or a life close to natural. Normal behavior with respect to poultry includes flapping wings, perching while sleeping and rolling themselves in the sand.

In order to enable chickens express normal behavior, a farmer should provide them with a proper shelter and appropriate space in addition to putting them in the company of the animals of their own kind (Keeling, 2010). It is common to find farmers who have kept chicken in the same place with ducks, geese, turkey and other animals such as goats and sheep. This does not give the chicken a chance to express their normal behaviors since they are not kept with animals of their own kind. Normal reproduction and mating is part of the normal behavior which an animal should have freedom to.

On this point, the crucial aspect of bestiality crops up.

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