Welfare Science

Animal Welfare: Measuring Individual Animal Welfare

Individual animal welfare assessment goes beyond herd or flock-level measures to evaluate the experience of each animal within a group.

Key Facts

Evidence-based welfare practices improve outcomes for animals
Scientific research guides best practice in this welfare area
Welfare improvements here are achievable at reasonable cost
Public awareness and consumer choice can drive positive welfare change

Welfare Considerations

Individual welfare assessment recognises that group-level averages can mask significant welfare variation between individuals. Tools that enable individual welfare assessment including body condition scoring and behavioural observation create a more complete welfare picture.

What You Can Do

Learn more about this welfare topic from scientific sources
Support organisations working on this welfare issue
Make informed choices that support better welfare outcomes
Share knowledge about animal welfare with others