Behavioral Indicators of Livestock Welfare: Signs of Stress & Best Practices

Emma Muthoni

Livestock Production Officer

4 min read
12/12/2024
Behavioral Indicators of Livestock Welfare: Signs of Stress & Best Practices

What is animal welfare?

Animal welfare is a fairly new science that originally focused on animal behaviors’ but has evolved to an interdisciplinary science involving behavior, physiology, endocrinology, health, and neuroscience. In sub-Saharan Africa, animal welfare is still a strange and funny topic where commercial farmers and pastoralists are learning that their animals have rights, freedoms, and feelings and the psychological health of their animals should be considered.

Animal welfare is the state of an animal's well-being, including its mental and physical health, and its complete harmony with its environment. Animal welfare is compromised through overcrowding, neglect, malicious physical injury, overworking, and inhumane treatment during transportation and slaughter.

Components of animal welfare

To achieve animal welfare, we have to consider the five freedoms of the animal. The idea of animal freedom was first formulated in 1965 after an inquiry about farm animals. It was expanded further by the Farm Animal Welfare Council in 1979. These freedoms are;

  1. Freedom from hunger, thirst, and malnutrition.
  2. Freedom from discomfort
  3. Freedom from pain, injury, fear, and disease.
  4. Freedom from distress and fear.
  5.  Freedom to express their normal behavior.

Animals' social needs are usually underestimated. Limiting their social behavior leads to psychological abuse rather than physical abuse. Social needs involve interactions with members of the same species as well as with other species, including humans.

Indicators of animal welfare

Several indicators show the state of the animal's welfare. These include production and reproduction indicators. If the welfare of a dairy animal is compromised, the level of milk production decreases, and the animal may fail to conceive. If the animal is already pregnant, high-stress levels can lead to the abortion of the fetus.

  • Behavioral indicators where the animal shows signs of being in pain, aggressive behavior, and other pathological behaviors’ when the stress levels get too high.
  • Physiological indicators show high levels of stress hormones like cortisol and aldosterone in the blood and urine.
  • There are superficial indicators of "stress," such as increased pulse rate, raised hair, sweating, and enlarged pupils.

The level of productivity of an animal is inversely proportional to its welfare. Animals kept under intensive production systems usually produce high yields, but their freedoms are often compromised due to overcrowding and regular antibiotic use. As the degree of intensification increases, the decline of animal welfare becomes more severe. 

When animals are unable to express natural behaviors, it can lead to redirected actions that cause health issues. For instance, calves fed milk from buckets rather than allowed to suckle often begin licking or sucking on objects or body parts, as their innate need to suckle remains unmet. When an animal is subjected to chronic stress, it leads to apathy, where the animal appears depressed all the time since they are unable to cope with their surroundings.

Animal welfare considerations

To ensure the well-being of every animal breed and species, including pets, owners should understand and meet the social needs of these animals.

Living spaces for animals should be designed with both physical and social needs in mind. Animals should have enough room for free movement and adequate social space, ensuring sufficient distance between individuals to prevent stress or aggression. These spaces should also be clean and comfortable, protecting animals from extreme conditions and promoting their overall well-being.

The specific physiological needs of each animal should be considered. For example, breeds lacking pigmentation should not be exposed to UV rays for extended periods.

The nutrition needs of each animal should be met at different growth stages. For example, when the animal is in its production or reproduction period, it may have higher needs. Each stage requires different nutritional requirements, and the feed ratio should change with each stage.

Use qualified personnel to care for the animals. Stockperson behavior is a major determinant of whether the animals live in fear, and prolonged fear in animals affects their productivity and product quality. The personnel should have the correct knowledge of the biological behaviors, natural depositions, and how to handle each animal correctly. They should be able to note any changes in animal behavior that indicate stress.

During transportation, animals should be kept as comfortable as possible to reduce stress due to fatigue, heat, and changes in the environment. Slaughter should be as fast and as painless as possible. It should be done by qualified personnel, and no animal should witness another animal being slaughtered. Not only will it stress the animal, but it's also inhumane.

Conclusion

Behavioral indicators of animal welfare should be taken seriously and addressed immediately. Animal welfare must be a central focus in both domestic and wild animal production. Prioritizing animal care is essential, as healthy, content animals perform and produce at their best.

References

  • Farm Animal Welfare Council. (1992). FAWC updates the five freedoms. Veterinary Record, 17: 357
  • Barnett, J.L., and Hemsworth, P.H. (1990). The validity of physiological and behavioural measures of animal welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 25: 177-187.
  • Broom, D.M (1986). Indicators of poor Welfare. British Veterinary Journal 142, 524-526 https://doi.org/10.1016/0007-1935(86)90109-0
  •  Coleman, GJ, Hemsworth, PH & Hay, M. 1998. Predicting stockperson behaviour towards pigs from attitudinal and job-related variables and empathy. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 58: 63-75
  • Dawkins, M.S. (2003). Behaviour as a tool in the assessment of animal welfare. Zoology, 106: 383-387. https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-2006-00122
  •  Dawkins, M.S. (2006). A user’s guide to animal welfare science. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 21: 77-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2005.10.017
  • Dunayer, J. (1997) Animal Equality: Language and Liberation. Chicago, IL: Paul & Company Duncan I.J.H. and Petherick J.C. 1991. The implications of cognitive processes for animal welfare. Journal of Animal Science, 69, 5017-5022.