The academic publication of animal welfare science determines how quickly research findings reach practitioners, policymakers and the public, with open access publishing accelerating this impact.
The publication and dissemination of animal welfare science determines how quickly evidence translates into practice improvement and policy change. Academic publication behind subscription barriers limits access by the farmers, veterinarians and policymakers who most need the information. Open access publication removes these barriers, allowing welfare evidence to reach practitioners directly. The science-to-practice translation lag — the time between research publication and widespread adoption of findings — remains a significant barrier to welfare improvement. Bridging organizations that translate research findings into practitioner guidance, combined with open access publication, can accelerate this translation substantially.