#73 – Michelle Lavery on the Science of Animal Welfare
Nov 22, 2023
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Michelle Lavery discusses the science of animal welfare, including how scientists study animal emotions, the use of anthropomorphism, measuring animal preferences, perceptions of animal welfare science, and how to get involved with the study of animal emotions.
The science of animal welfare involves studying animal emotions through systematic investigation and behavioral preference tests.
Animal welfare science informs policy changes and regulations, ensuring improvements in animal welfare and effective policy interventions.
Animal welfare scientists play a critical role in advocating for improved conditions and welfare for farm animals, contributing to evidence-based campaigns and collaborations with policymakers.
Deep dives
Importance of Understanding Animal Emotions in Farm Animal Welfare
Understanding and studying animal emotions in farm animal welfare is crucial. It raises important scientific questions about emotions and how to study them in animals that cannot directly communicate. Animal welfare science has made interesting discoveries, but the field is still young, leaving much work to be done. Exploring what environments make animals happier is a unique aspect of the field. Research in animal behavior provides rigorous and impartial scientific evidence on the impacts of animal practices. This evidence is essential for making strong cost-benefit arguments to encourage companies and policymakers to change practices for the benefit of animal welfare.
The Complexity of Animal Emotions and Psychological Well-being
Animal emotions and psychological well-being are not as easily understood as physical pain and acute stress. The complexity of animals' emotional experiences requires systematic investigation. Behavioral preference tests and motivation studies help determine what animals want or need. Understanding animals' desires and emotional well-being goes beyond knowing what they dislike or fear. Systematic investigations can challenge assumptions and provide evidence for improving animal welfare. Assessing chronic welfare and long-term mood states can involve techniques like judgment bias tasks, which provide insights into animals' emotional experiences over time.
The Intersection of Animal Emotions and Policy Process
Animal emotions and welfare science intersect with the policy process. Rigorous scientific evidence on animal welfare can inform policy changes and regulations. The science of animal welfare ensures that policy interventions actually lead to improvements in animal welfare. Evidence-based studies are crucial to support policy decisions and set thresholds for practices that affect animal emotions and well-being. Understanding and applying animal emotions are key factors in making policies effective and ensuring they result in significant positive changes in animal welfare.
The Role of Animal Welfare Science in Farm Animal Advocacy
Animal welfare science plays a critical role in advocating for improved conditions and welfare for farm animals. Researchers in the field investigate animal emotions, behavioral needs, and preferences, addressing neglected topics in farm animal welfare. They contribute to the body of evidence that supports ethical considerations and pushes for changes in industry practices. Animal advocacy groups may rely on the scientific findings to address specific welfare issues and engage policymakers. The collaboration between animal welfare scientists, advocates, and policymakers is essential for driving positive change and improving the lives of farm animals.
Importance of evidence-based policy for improving animal welfare
Animal welfare scientists emphasize the importance of evidence-based policy in improving the lives of animals. They argue that a multi-pronged approach is necessary to address animal suffering and advocate for better lives for animals. This approach involves using scientific research and evidence to support policy changes that prioritize animal welfare. Animal welfare scientists also highlight the potential for science to showcase alternative farming practices that can improve animal welfare, such as farming slower-growing broiler breeds. Contrary to the misconception that animal welfare scientists are industry apologists, they have been conducting rigorous research to build a body of evidence supporting policy and corporate campaign asks.
Regulation of animal experimentation and ethical considerations
Animal experimentation is regulated by ethical committees that oversee the treatment of animals in publicly funded institutions. These committees, such as the Canadian Council for Animal Care and the IACook in the US, review research proposals and assess the invasiveness and potential pain or suffering caused to animals. However, the quality of ethical review and oversight can vary among institutions, with some having more rigorous standards than others. Animal welfare scientists engaging in experimentation often adopt a utilitarian perspective, where they carefully consider the potential benefits of their research for improving animal welfare. They also prioritize minimizing harm within the experiments by refining procedures and providing enriched environments for the animals.
How do scientists study animal emotions in the first place? How is a "science" of animal emotion even feasible?
When is it useful to anthropomorphise animals to understand them?
How can you study the preferences of animals? How can you measure the “strength” of preferences?
How do farmed animal welfare advocates relate to animal welfare science? Are their perceptions fair?
How can listeners get involved with the study of animal emotions?
You can get in touch through our website or on Twitter. Consider leaving us an honest review wherever you're listening to this — it's the best free way to support the show. Thanks for listening!
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