Species : Multiple species

What is ethology, the ideas behind it and its methods? How does an animal inhabit its space, make use of available food resources and build its social world? What are the cognitive processes at work in this? How can personality explain behaviour? Written by specialists from different fields but in an intentionally accessible and explanatory way with the help of numerous illustrations, this book offers an overview of ethology grounded in analysis of cutting-edge research in ethology.

Preview:  “The term depopulation refers to the rapid de¬struction of a population of animals in response to urgent circumstances with as much consideration given to the welfare of the animals as practicable. Ur¬gent circumstances may include emergency situations, such as the need for immediate disease control or a response to natural or human-made disasters.[…] The challenge facing veterinarians and others tasked with depopulation is to balance aggressive management of and rapid response to an emergency situation with animal welfare concerns surrounding humane destruction. Veterinarians are positioned to offer sound professional judgment as the value of animals’ lives and their welfare is weighed against immediate risk to human beings, other populations of animals, or the environment."

ISO / TS 34700: 2016 provides requirements and guidance for the implementation of animal welfare principles as they are described in the introduction to the OIE SSHWC animal welfare recommendations (Chapter 7.1).

The article addresses the issue of moral concern for domestic animals and for animal welfare defined as freedom from mortality and morbidity, freedom from stress, and the animal's freedom to express the natural behaviour of its species. While the first two definitions can lead to a failure to consider the animal in all its aspects, the third has the advantage of achieving this, taking into account the needs and social behaviours of livestock.

Highly detailed guide to all euthanisation methods for all species (domestic carnivores, livestock and laboratory animals)

Description of the different methods of slaughter with recommendations concerning animal welfare

This concept note puts the issue of welfare back into its context, proposes a definition that takes account of the latest knowledge on the sensitivity and consciousness of animals, and considers their practical incorporation into animal husbandry. The importance of the welfare of animals dependent on humans (farm animals, pets, zoo animals, circus animals, laboratory animals, etc) has gradually asserted itself over the last 50 years, particularly in the context of animal production, and is at the heart of concerns over the future of animal husbandry. The concept of animal welfare is placed in its philosophical, societal and legal contexts, all of which influence the ways it is taken account of and the meanings assigned to it. Particular attention has been paid to the scientific foundations for the concept of welfare, based on the psychological characteristics of animals as sentient and conscious beings. ... Protocols for assessing animal welfare must therefore combine the analysis of behaviour and the physiological and health status of the animal with data on the environment.