Welfare Science

Farm Animal Welfare Science Research Priorities

Identifying and funding high-impact research priorities is essential for evidence-based improvement of farm animal welfare.

Key Facts

Welfare science funding is disproportionately low relative to production research
Pain assessment and management in farm animals remains an undertreated research area
Positive welfare indicators require development as validated tools for most farm species
Welfare impacts of novel production technologies need anticipatory research
Translating welfare research into farm practice requires implementation science

Welfare Considerations

Research investment in farm animal welfare is critical to identifying effective interventions and measuring progress. Funding priorities should focus on gaps with the highest potential impact, including pain management, positive welfare indicators and practical implementation.

What You Can Do

Support organisations funding farm animal welfare research directly
Advocate for increased public funding for farm animal welfare science
Engage with universities and research funders to prioritise high-impact welfare research