Ethical aspects of
animal welfare
Magdalena Puzio, Magdalena Wideł – Szewczyk. Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture, Lublin, Poland.
Cédric Ballagny, Bertrand Meda.
Agrocampus Rennes (Ecole Nationale Supérieure
Agronomique de Rennes), France.
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Introduction
Animal welfare is now an important issue in
European countries.
Many associations for animal protection.
Population expectations.
Main problems are today observed in
breeding systems.
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Animal welfare according to
different scientists
According to Lorz
The status of physical and physiological harmony
between animal and environment, enables the
feeling of specific species necessity (in field of
physiology, ethology and health)
According to Tinbergen
The status of animals in unconstrained way manifest
all the typical behaviours for species and age.
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According to Broom
The state of an animal given the attempts it does to adapt
to its environment.
According to Brantas
When the animal is “well-fitted” to its own
environment, it can sustain its own biological
balance, when the animal is free from pain and
diseases, it can behave in a not disordered way
and when natural suffering is obviously excluded.
According to Hughes
Animal welfare is both a good physical and mental
health in which the animal is in harmony with its
environment.
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5 Freedoms definition proposed by
Farm Animal Welfare Council
Freedom from hunger and thirst: by ready access to fresh water
and a diet to maintain ful health and vigour.
Freedom from discomfort: by providing an appropriate environment
including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
Freedom from pain, injury and disease: by prevention or rapid
diagnosis and treatment.
Freedom to express normal behaviour: by providing sufficient
space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind .
Freedom from fear and distress: by ensuring conditions and
treatment which avoid mental suffering.
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Are the 5 freedoms enough ?
5 freedoms definition is only a list of criteria used
to create and keep an animal welfare:
We cannot define precisely what welfare is.
Problem: do we have to care about something
that we cannot define?
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Animal welfare as a
precaution principle
Precaution principle: we suppose that animal
welfare exists and then we have to care
about it.
Many legislatives acts in order to protect
animal welfare.
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Animal rights imply laws
Universal declaration of animal rights (1978)
European conventions
European directives
National legislation
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But can we give rights to
animals?
Animals rights mean that they are conscious of their rights.
According to Kant: we can’t give rights to something that is
unconscious but we have duties towards it:
« Les choses inanimées sont entièrement soumises à
notre arbitre, et il ne peut y avoir de devoirs envers les
animaux qu’en relation avec nous-mêmes. »
Man has duties to respect animals and cannot make them
suffer unnecesserally.
unnecesserally
Can we make them suffer necesserally?
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Animal welfare vs.
Human Rights
Which issue is the most important?
Respect of Life OR Mankind happiness
There is no absolute answer!
Conscious dilemna
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Different status of animal
Universal declaration of animals rights supposes that
animals are equal but…
Different status can be observed:
Differences of culture: religion, country…
Differences of uses: breeding, pet…
Personnal feelings
We give them rights which are not fully respected!
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Characteristical aspects
of animal welfare
Tolerance – to new environment,
Adaptation – to new environmental factors,
Condition – the best for the health, production...
Homeostasis – physiological, metabolic and
immunological processes,
Stress, which is always opposite to animal welfare.
Hormonal response depending on endocrine system:
steroid and nonsteroid hormones, hormonal axis
(pituitary gland), adrenal gland and pancreas.
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How can we check animal welfare?
Physiology (pulse or respiratory rate)
Behaviour (normal and abnormal behaviour,
stereotypies)
Health (morbidity, mortality)
Production (milk, meat, fat, egg etc.)
Supplemental (kind of materials used in
construction of buildings). Analysis of breeding
system, relations of farmers to animals in different
production.
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The methods of animal welfare control
1. Objective criteria:
Clinical and laboratory diagnostic.
Statistical analysis.
Ethological analysis.
2. Subjective criteria:
Observation of animal behaviours.
Personal feelings of environment and housing
system conditions.
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Is it possible to agree livestock
production with animal welfare?
It depends on:
Individual human relations with animals
A more restrictive and effective animal welfare
control
Changes in breeding systems are necessary
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Conclusion
We have to impose us moral duties to protect
animals and to respect their welfare.
But animal welfare should not be a limit to
human happiness!
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Thank you for your
attention!
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