Document type : Article published in The Conversation
Author: Alexandra Destrez
Preview: The sensory organs of animals are not the same as ours and they perceive the world in a different way. Whereas the human sensory system is predominantly audiovisual, the sense of smell is as important as vision and hearing in most other mammals. To make sure that we live alongside the animals that surround us, whether they are pets or farm animals, in the best possible way, we need to understand the sensory basis of human-animal relationships. This raises the question of how human emotions are communicated and shared with animals, but also how animal share their emotions with humans, which must be understood if we are to respect and even improve not just their welfare but also our own.
The issue of animal welfare has become increasingly important and is at the heart of concerns about the future of livestock farming. In 2018, the French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) proposed a definition of animal welfare: "The welfare of an animal is the positive mental and physical state related to the satisfaction of its physiological and behavioural needs, as well as its expectations. This state varies according to the animal's perception of the situation.
The ANSES also stresses that "positive human actions towards the animal (good treatment) are an essential prerequisite for animal welfare". Human-animal relationships are thus a key component of animal welfare, but also of the farmer's welfare. Indeed, relationships based on calm interactions and with un-stressed animals reduce the risk of accidents. Farmers are therefore less stressed in their daily lives, and a virtuous circle is established. Any evaluation of this relationship must necessarily take an animal's sensory perceptions of humans into account.
