How animal welfare is measured on farms, what key indicators researchers use, and how audit systems work in practice.
Measuring welfare accurately is challenging because animals cannot self-report. Researchers use a combination of physical indicators (lesions, body condition score, lameness), behavioral indicators (fear tests, social behavior, stereotypies), and health records to build a picture of welfare on farm. The challenge is that many audit systems rely on infrastructure checks (pen size, feeder space) rather than direct animal assessment. Outcome-based measurement is more accurate but more labor-intensive.