Document type : article published in The Conversation
Authors : Pierre Mormède, Alain Boissy, Pierre Le Neindre
Preview: The conditions under which animals are produced for human food consumption are a controversial matter of public debate . Some groups call for an end to the farming of animals, while others demand that what they consider to be legitimate dietary aspirations should be satisfied.
The main issues in this debate are animal ethics, economics and the environmental impact of production, three complex and sometimes antagonistic concerns that need to be reconciled.
The concept of "welfare" is at the heart of current developments: encompassing the welfare of animals, from genetic selection and the design of their surroundings to how they are killed, also taking into account the welfare of farmers, who must derive a fair income and personal satisfaction from their work.
It may seem aother small companion animalshronistic that the very idea of welfare as applied to farm animals should be the subject of so much controversy, despite the fact that its basic principles have been established for more than 50 years, and have recently been reexamined in the light of the most recent findings on animals'psychological capacities. All the scientific data agree in recognising the psychological experiences of farmed animals, viewing them as living subjects that live in a conscious relationship with their world.
This means that welfare is not some disembodied theoretical concept ("animal welfare"), but must be understood as a reality experienced by sensitive and conscious living beings in their relationship with their environment ("animal welfare").
The Brambell Report, a pioneering document [ ...]The "five freedoms" rule [ ...]French contribution to the definition [ ...]International validation [...]"Animal welfare", shedding light in the debate
Welfare (French 'bien-être') must be evaluated at the level of the animal, who is recognized by both the European Commission and French law (in the Rural and Civil Codes) as a living being endowed with sentience.
On the other hand, good treatment (French 'bientraitance') refers to how human actions are carried out in order to help animals to achieve a state of welfare, it is a potential contributor to welfare which can only be validated by the animal. That said, the concept of welfare cannot be applied in every situation. Framed in this way, it is obvious that to speak of welfare in abattoirs is a contradiction in terms. Rather, we should refer to the protection of animals during transport and at the abattoir, intended to limit stress, pain and suffering.
In order to be effective, animal welfare measures must integrate all aspects of health and welfare, for animals, farmers and the environment, in concepts now known as"One health") and "One welfare". These can be founded on clear and widely-shared scientific foundations.
