Welfare assessment uses behavioral, physiological, and health indicators to objectively measure the welfare state of animals in various settings.
Animal welfare assessment has evolved from primarily subjective observations to evidence-based, standardized protocols. Modern welfare assessment incorporates both negative welfare measures (prevalence of injuries, disease, fear behavior) and positive welfare indicators (occurrence of play, curiosity, and social affiliative behavior). These tools allow researchers and auditors to objectively compare welfare across different production systems. On-farm welfare assessment has shown that stockmanship quality — how animal handlers interact with animals — is one of the strongest predictors of overall welfare outcomes.