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What is Normal?

Determination of normal animal welfare helps ensure correct measurements.

“I get so excited when my students finally realize that animals are not furry little people. Animals perceive things differently,” said Ed Pajor, professor of animal behavior and welfare at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. He added that too often we think of measuring animal welfare, but it is like health. You can measure attributes like heart rate and cholesterol, but not health as a whole. Welfare is similar.


Pajor spoke at the International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare in Manhattan, Kan., June 8-10.


He shared part of the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE) definition that says, “Animal welfare refers to the state of the animal; the treatment that an animal receives is covered by other terms such as animal care, animal husbandry and humane treatment.”


Animal welfare isn’t improved by putting new flooring in, Pajor explained. The animal not slipping improves animal welfare.


Ed Pajor

Animal welfare assessments are here to stay and will become part of sustainability programs, concluded Ed Pajor, professor of animal behavior and welfare at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Animal welfare is a mixture of an animal’s natural behavior, function and feelings. A large emphasis has recently been put on ensuring positive experiences for animals, not just minimizing suffering.


Behavior is where welfare differs from health. It shows the initial change to indicate a problem, and can be used to assess physical health. It is measured noninvasively and gives information about an animal’s needs, preferences and internal state.


Understanding normal behavior includes understanding basic biology, Pajor explained. Cows rely on their hearing and vision to perceive their environment. They have 300 degrees of vision with good distance vision. They can see some color, but they have bad depth perception.


Understanding animal behavior gives a baseline for comparison, even in differing environments. However, he warns, “Normal does not mean what you see every day. Don’t let abnormal become normal.” Normal does not mean common.


Pajor granted that variation or absence of behavior does not indicate poor welfare, per se, because animals adapt to different environments. Knowing the motivation and function behind the behavior adds understanding on a deeper level. For instance, behavior is an early indication of illness.


General principles for welfare of animals include genetics; selection for health, behavior and temperament; environment; social behavior; feed, water and air quality; disease and parasites; handling, knowledge and skill; and pain management.


Pajor noted several welfare assessment programs, and noted that the best include

Audits for these assessments are merely a snapshot of time, he warned. Behavior is rarely used in these, but behavior outcomes such as quiet handling are used frequently. Animal welfare assessments are here to stay, he concluded, and will become part of sustainability programs.


Watch for additional coverage of the 2016 ISBCW is in the Angus Journal and Angus Beef Bulletin. Comprehensive meeting coverage is archived at www.api-virtuallibrary.com/meetings_other_news.html.


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