Measuring animal welfare objectively is essential to improving it. Understanding what welfare metrics exist, how they are validated, and how they are used helps advocates and practitioners apply them effectively.
Welfare metrics matter because you cannot improve what you cannot measure. Subjective impressions of animal welfare are insufficient for policy, regulation, and industry improvement programs. Validated welfare assessment tools provide the evidence base for identifying problems, tracking progress, and comparing systems. The development of on-farm welfare assessment protocols has been transformative — enabling retailers, certifiers, and regulators to make welfare decisions based on observed outcomes rather than inputs like space allowances alone.