Measuring biological stress indicators provides objective welfare assessment - advances in biomarker research are improving welfare monitoring in farms, labs, and zoos.
Stress biomarker research is transforming welfare assessment from subjective observation to objective measurement. Non-invasive techniques - faecal sampling, thermal imaging, eye scoring - enable routine welfare monitoring without the confound of handling-induced stress. Validated biomarkers provide auditable welfare evidence for farm assurance schemes and regulatory compliance. The development of on-farm automated stress monitoring using thermal cameras and computer vision is an exciting frontier that could provide continuous welfare surveillance across large livestock operations. Investment in biomarker validation is a high-leverage welfare science priority.