Access to outdoor space is a key welfare provision for many farmed animal species, but the quality of that access matters as much as its availability in determining actual welfare benefit.
Outdoor access provisions have become a central feature of higher-welfare labelling, but the welfare value of outdoor access depends entirely on its quality and the degree to which animals actually use it. Barren, open outdoor ranges may be avoided by prey-species birds that feel exposed. Ranges with tree cover, shrubs, and sheltered zones are used at much higher rates and deliver greater welfare benefits. Welfare assessments should therefore focus on actual range use rates and range quality rather than simply the legal availability of outdoor space. This distinction is critical for ensuring that welfare labels reflect genuine improvements in animal experience.