Modelling Farm Animal Welfare

Abstract

Simple SummaryIn this review paper we discuss the different modeling techniques that have been used in animal welfare research to date. We look at what questions they have been used to answer, the advantages and pitfalls of the methods, and how future research can best use these approaches to answer some of the most important upcoming questions in farm animal welfare.AbstractThe use of models in the life sciences has greatly expanded in scope and advanced in technique in recent decades. However, the range, type and complexity of models used in farm animal welfare is comparatively poor, despite the great scope for use of modeling in this field of research. In this paper, we review the different modeling approaches used in farm animal welfare science to date, discussing the types of questions they have been used to answer, the merits and problems associated with the method, and possible future applications of each technique. We find that the most frequently published types of model used in farm animal welfare are conceptual and assessment models; two types of model that are frequently (though not exclusively) based on expert opinion. Simulation, optimization, scenario, and systems modeling approaches are rarer in animal welfare, despite being commonly used in other related fields. Finally, common issues such as a lack of quantitative data to parameterize models, and model selection and validation are discussed throughout the review, with possible solutions and alternative approaches suggested.

Economic, Environmental, and Animal Welfare Performance on Livestock Farms: Conceptual Model and Application to Some Case Studies in Italy

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The Utility of Iris-pupillary Area Ratio as a Non-invasive Index of Stress in Primates

“…[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Stress can broadly be classified into three categories based on the degree of sympathetic system activity: 1) Physiological stress, 2) Borderline stress and 3) Pathological stress. [14][15] While several invasive and non-invasive approaches are described to evaluate the degree of stress, [8][9]12,[16][17] objectively quantifying the level of stress has remained a challenge, especially in exotic animals due to the limitations in approaching them. Progressive elevation in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system is integral to stress, which can be directly quantified by measuring epinephrine/ nor-epinephrine levels in the circulation or indirectly quantified by measuring various autonomic functions influenced by the sympathetic system.…”

Simulating pigs : Understanding their motivations, behaviour, welfare and productivity

“…This requires understanding of the system on various organisational levels and knowledge of multiple disciplines (e.g. ethology, physiology, and psychology) (Collins & Part, 2013).…”

“…interaction among internal and external factors) (Haefner, 2005). Especially for multidimensional issues such as welfare, these kind of models have high potential (Collins & Part, 2013).…”

“…ABM can be used to analyse how pig behaviour emerges from a complex interaction of internal factors and external factors, and how behaviour can develop over time. Although several scientific disciplines, such as ecology and social sciences, commonly use ABM, the use of this method in applied ethology and animal welfare science has been limited so far (Asher et al, 2009;Collins & Part, 2013). ABM, however, has potential for use in these fields, since it can include individual variation and social interactions.…”