Recognition of farm animal sentience in law and policy has advanced significantly in recent decades, but implementation remains inconsistent. This review examines where policy aligns with science and where gaps remain.
The gap between scientific understanding of animal sentience and legal recognition of it remains vast. Most farm animal welfare law is based on preventing cruelty rather than positively promoting welfare in light of sentience. The UK's Animal Sentience Committee represents a genuine policy innovation - requiring government to consider animal sentience in all decisions. Whether this leads to meaningful changes depends on political will and civil society engagement.