Animal welfare improvement in lower-income countries faces distinct challenges from resource constraints, cultural context, and the central role of livestock in food security and livelihoods, requiring context-sensitive approaches.
Animal welfare in developing country contexts requires approaches that account for the different role of animals in livelihoods, the resource constraints of producers and governments, and the cultural significance of animal use practices. Imposing high-income country welfare standards without regard to economic feasibility and cultural context undermines both welfare improvement and development goals. The most effective interventions are those that improve welfare while simultaneously improving productivity, reducing disease burden, and strengthening the livelihoods of animal-keeping families. Slaughter welfare improvements including basic facilities and simple stunning methods represent high-impact, low-cost interventions accessible in resource-limited settings. Building local animal welfare science capacity through university programs and research partnerships is a long-term investment that creates sustainable institutional foundations for welfare improvement.