Welfare Science

Farm Animal Welfare Research Priority Setting

Setting priorities in farm animal welfare research ensures limited scientific resources address the most impactful welfare problems.

Key Facts

Farm animal welfare research spans from basic science to applied husbandry interventions
Priority setting frameworks consider welfare impact magnitude, tractability, and neglect
Pain and negative affective states are considered high-priority research targets
Translating research into on-farm practice requires engagement with producers and policy makers

Welfare Considerations

Without systematic priority setting, welfare research resources are spread inefficiently. Focusing on high-impact, tractable problems - such as chronic pain in farm animals, negative emotional states, and stunning efficacy - delivers greater welfare improvement per research pound invested.

What You Can Do

Support organisations funding high-impact farm animal welfare research
Advocate for research translation programmes bringing findings to farm practice
Engage with public consultations on animal welfare research priorities