Gaps in welfare indicator science limit effective welfare assessment, and targeted research priorities can guide resources toward the highest-impact improvements in animal welfare measurement.
The science of welfare assessment has transformed understanding of farm animal welfare but significant gaps limit practical impact. Underdeveloped tools for fish and poultry species mean billions of animals are produced with minimal evidence-based welfare assessment. The imbalance between negative and positive indicator research means our measurement framework is skewed toward detecting suffering rather than assessing flourishing. Research addressing these gaps - particularly for aquatic species, poultry, and positive welfare states - would significantly increase the welfare impact of monitoring programs and regulatory frameworks.