Animal Welfare Science

Animal Welfare Data: What We Know and What We Need

The evidence base for animal welfare decision-making varies enormously between species and welfare domains, with significant data gaps limiting evidence-based improvement.

Key Facts

Welfare data is most comprehensive for cattle, pigs, and poultry in developed countries
Fish welfare data is sparse despite fish being the most numerous farmed vertebrates
Wild animal welfare data is almost entirely absent from welfare monitoring systems
Positive welfare indicators are significantly less developed than negative welfare measures
Data interoperability between countries limits global welfare benchmarking

Welfare Considerations

Animal welfare improvement requires evidence, yet significant evidence gaps prevent evidence-based decision-making for many species and contexts. The most numerous animal welfare problems — fish, insects, wild animals — are also the most poorly understood. Investment in welfare science across neglected species and welfare domains is essential to move from assumption-based to evidence-based welfare improvement.

What You Can Do

Support animal welfare science research across neglected species including fish and invertebrates
Advocate for welfare monitoring systems to be implemented and published for all farmed species
Donate to research organizations developing welfare assessment tools for under-served species
Engage with welfare data gaps as a research priority requiring philanthropic and government funding