The Five Domains model provides a comprehensive framework for assessing both negative welfare and positive welfare states in animals, expanding on the original Five Freedoms to include mental state.
The Five Domains framework moves welfare science beyond the prevention of suffering toward active promotion of positive experiences. An animal that is healthy, well-nourished and in an appropriate environment may still experience neutral or negative mental states if its behavioural needs are not met. The framework enables a richer welfare assessment that captures the full range of animal experience and drives both regulatory and production system improvements.