Public concern for farm animal welfare is increasing in the UK, as is evidenced by recent legislation. Calls have been made to enhance awareness of food, farming and farm animal welfare among school children, yet educators have very little research available to aid meaningful design of farm animal welfare education. This paper uses an interdisciplinary approach to investigate Scottish children's welfare knowledge and perspectives on farm animals. The study set out to explore: a) children's knowledge of the welfare needs of cows, lambs and chickens, b) beliefs about farm animal sentience, c) the extent to which children empathized with farm animals, and d) the impact of first-hand experience on attitudes towards farm animals. Data was collected from six focus group interviews with children aged 6 to 11 years and allowed both developmental and gender comparisons. While children were not indifferent to the welfare and treatment of farm animals, the study identified very large gaps in children's knowledge of farm animal welfare needs. While children endorsed animal sentience and readily took the perspective of cows, chickens and sheep, empathy was cognitive rather than affective. Most children had had little contact with farm animals and perceived of them in a more abstract sense than they did pet animals. Our study highlights the potential of direct interaction with farm animals to enhance children's welfare concern and compassion for farm animals. Findings also identified an interest in discussing the ethical aspects of killing animals for human consumption among children aged 10 years and older.