Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis: Founding Partner.

Transcription

1 Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis: Founding Partner

2 Animal Welfare Thinking Today is Built on 30 Years of Scientific Study Professor David J Mellor Co-Director Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre Massey University, New Zealand D.J.Mellor@massey.ac.nz

3 Major source publications DJ Mellor, E Patterson-Kane and KJ Stafford (2009). The Sciences of Animal Welfare. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK. *Mellor, D.J. (2011). Animal pain and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines. In: Proceedings of the First OIE Global Conference on Evolving Veterinary Education for a Safer World, Paris, France, October, 2009, pp *Green, T.C. and Mellor, D.J. (2011). Extending ideas about animal welfare assessment of include quality of life and related concepts. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 59, *Mellor, D.J. (2012). Animal emotions, behaviour & the promotion of positive welfare states. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 60, 1-8. *Mellor, D.J. (2012). Affective states and the assessment of laboratory-induced animal welfare impacts. ALTEX Proceedings 1 (WC8), *PDF available on request

4 Areas considered Introduction Three orientations to animal welfare The five domains model Quality of life (QoL) Scaling quality of life Starting animal welfare thinking with pain Concluding remarks

5 Areas considered Introduction Three orientations to animal welfare The five domains model Quality of life Scaling quality of life Starting animal welfare thinking with pain Concluding remarks

6 Introduction Animal welfare science is about years old There is no single, unified definition of AW This is not surprising: Early attempted definitions modified More researchers began to think about AW Alternative definitions provided from different perspectives knowledge of animal functionality affected thinking about AW and how to define it Impact of societal views about animals and how they should be treated

7 Introduction Nevertheless, ideas about AW have evolved: The Five Freedoms The Five Domains Three main orientations to AW Increasing emphasis on emotional or affective states Individual ve states multiple ve impacts Increasing emphasis on Quality of Life (QoL) QoL related concepts: a life not worth living a life worth avoiding a life worth living a good life

8 Areas considered Introduction Three orientations to animal welfare The five domains model Quality of life Scaling quality of life Starting animal welfare thinking with pain Concluding remarks

9 Three orientations to animal welfare Biological functioning: AW is good when: Animals are healthy, growing and reproducing well When productivity (meat, milk, eggs, fibre) is good

10 Three orientations to animal welfare Biological functioning: AW is good when: Animals are healthy, growing and reproducing well When productivity (meat, milk, eggs, fibre) is good Affective state: animals can have -ve and +ve experiences in their interactions with other animals, people and the environment - AW is good when: -ve experiences are minimal or absent (i.e. there is little or no suffering) +ve experiences are present

11 Three orientations to animal welfare Biological functioning: AW is good when: Animals are healthy, growing and reproducing well When productivity (meat, milk, eggs, fibre) is good Affective state: animals can have -ve and +ve experiences in their interactions with other animals, people and the environment - AW is good when: -ve experiences are minimal or absent (i.e. there is little or no suffering) +ve experiences are present Natural state: AW is good when: Conditions are similar to ancestors natural state

12 Three orientations to animal welfare Biological functioning came first - from 1980s: Related to what could be measured Concrete indices e.g. nutrition, health, stress, etc Animals experience not allowed or downplayed

13 Three orientations to animal welfare Biological functioning came first - from 1980s: Related to what could be measured Concrete indices e.g. nutrition, health, stress, etc Animals experience not allowed or downplayed Affective state accepted from early 1990s: Animals feelings /experiences legitimised Extrapolation from human experience No direct indices

14 Three orientations to animal welfare Biological functioning came first - from 1980s: Related to what could be measured Concrete indices Animals experience not allowed or downplayed Affective state accepted from early 1990s: Animals feelings /experiences legitimised Extrapolation from human experience No direct indices Natural state - comparisons made throughout: Assessments require reference to knowledge of biological functioning and affective state

15 Areas considered Introduction Three orientations to animal welfare The five domains model Quality of life Scaling quality of life Starting animal welfare thinking with pain Concluding remarks

16 The Five Domains Model The Five Freedoms: Developed by FAWC in 1979 An excellent beginning Effectively expressed as absolutes akin to rights Unrealisable practically idealised goals Conflated the name of the goal and the remedy Physical/functional and mental elements were not distinguished BUT did draw attention to: thirst, hunger, discomfort, pain, fear and distress This anticipated the acceptance of subjective, emotional or affective states in later animal welfare science thinking

17 The Five Domains Model The Five Domains Model: It is used to assess animal welfare status Developed by Mellor & Reid in 1994 Focus on areas of potential welfare compromise Four physical/functional domains and one mental domain Sensory inputs generated within the physical/functional domains are processes and experienced within the mental domain Experiences in the mental domain = the animal welfare state

18 The Five Domains Model

19 The Five Domains Model The Five Domains Model: 2009 update: markedly the number of ve experiences These are all subjective, emotional or affective experiences How can they be assessed?

20 The Five Domains Model At least 50 years of clinical, scientific and practical work forms the basis of assessment: By veterinarians, animal-based scientists, stock handlers, pet owners and others Numerous well-validated clinical indices - e.g. diagnostic tests (health) Many state-specific physiological, pathophysiological & behavioural indices in applied nutritional, environmental, behavioural and neural/cognitive sphere

21 The Five Domains Model At least 50 years of clinical, scientific & practical work forms the basis of assessment: By veterinarians, animal-based scientists, stock handlers, pet owners and others Numerous well-validated clinical indices - e.g. diagnostic tests (health) Many state-specific physiological, pathophysiological & behavioural indices in applied nutritional, environmental, behavioural and neural/cognitive spheres These indices relate to functional disruptions in each of the five domains We can cautiously anticipate what these mean in terms of affective state

22 The Five Domains Model At least 50 years of clinical, scientific & practical work forms the basis of assessment: By veterinarians, animal-based scientists, stock handlers, pet owners and others Numerous well-validated clinical indices - e.g. diagnostic tests (health) Many state-specific physiological, pathophysiological & behavioural indices in applied nutritional, environmental, behavioural and neural/cognitive spheres These indices relate to functional disruptions in each of the five domains We can cautiously anticipate what these mean in terms of affective state BUT it is not necessary to be able to measure these experiences directly to manage them practically

23 The Five Domains Model The functional state indices can be used to demonstrate an absence of unacceptable compromise in the five domains - or at least many types of compromises

24 The Five Domains Model The functional state indices can be used to demonstrate an absence of unacceptable compromise in the five domains - or at least many types of compromises Also when the functional indices indicate the likely presence of unpleasant affect, they can be used to demonstrate that remedial action has been successful

25 The Five Domains Model The functional state indices can be used to demonstrate an absence of unacceptable compromise in the five domains - or at least many types of compromises Also when the functional indices indicate the likely presence of unpleasant affect, they can be used to demonstrate that remedial action has been successful When assessing the type of compromise an animal with a low AW status may experience, both functional state indices and informed or professional judgements would be used

26 The Five Domains Model The functional state indices can be used to demonstrate an absence of unacceptable compromise in the five domains - or at least many types of compromises Also when the functional indices indicate the likely presence of unpleasant affect, they can be used to demonstrate that remedial action has been successful When assessing the type of compromise an animal with a low AW status may experience, both functional state indices and informed or professional judgements would be used Such judgements need to be made cautiously, because not all subjective experiences (+ve or -ve) people have will apply to animals

27 The Five Domains Model The Five Domains model can also accommodate +ve welfare states: E.g. satiety, vitality, reward, contentment, curiosity and playfulness AW compromise may result from an absence of such +ve experiences Their presence (mental domain) may be seen as a need in AW terms

28 The Five Domains Model The Five Domains model can also accommodate +ve welfare states: E.g. satiety, vitality, reward, contentment, curiosity and playfulness AW compromise may result from an absence of such +ve experiences Their presence (mental domain) may be seen as a need in AW terms An animal has good welfare when its nutritional, environmental, health, behavioural and mental needs are met Thus, animals should be managed in ways that both avoid ve mental states and promote +ve mental states

29 The Five Domains Model The Five Domains model can also accommodate +ve welfare states: E.g. satiety, vitality, reward, contentment, curiosity and playfulness AW compromise may result from an absence of such +ve experiences Their presence (mental domain) may be seen as a need in AW terms An animal has good welfare when its nutritional, environmental, health, behavioural and mental needs are met Thus, animals should be managed in ways that both avoid ve mental states and promote +ve mental states Notions of Quality of Life also focus on +ve experiences

30 Areas considered Introduction Three orientations to animal welfare The five domains model Quality of life Scaling quality of life Starting animal welfare thinking with pain Concluding remarks

31 Quality of Life QoL emphatically highlights the animal s internal subjective experience of its own state QoL is determined by the overall balance of +ve and ve affects

32 Quality of Life QoL emphatically highlights the animal s internal subjective experience of its own state QoL is determined by the overall balance of +ve and ve affects Greater emphasis was given to +ve affect than was usual with other orientations to AW up to the mid-2000s As animal QoL started with human QoL thinking, it underscores empathetic consideration of animals

33 Quality of Life QoL emphatically highlights the animal s internal subjective experience of its own state QoL is determined by the overall balance of +ve and ve affect Greater emphasis was given to +ve affect than was usual with other orientations to AW up to the mid-2000s As animal QoL started with human QoL thinking, it underscores empathetic consideration of animals Important to avoid unjustified or incautious attribution of human feelings to animals Species differences must also be considered for some states

34 Quality of Life QoL concepts are compatible with the Five Domains model because of their focus on the animal s mental state

35 Quality of Life QoL concepts are compatible with the Five Domains model because of their focus on the animal s mental state QoL concepts are also compatible with the three AW orientations biological function, affective state, natural living BUT they are firmly rooted in the affective state orientation and strongly emphasise +ve affect

36 Quality of Life QoL concepts are compatible with the Five Domains concept because of their focus on the animal s mental state QoL concepts are also compatible with the three AW orientations biological function, affective state, natural living BUT they are firmly rooted in the affective state orientation and strongly emphasise +ve affect BUT QoL is problematic to grade, rank, assess or measure due to: its focus on the mental state of individual animals the subjectivity of those states the complex interactions between numerous factors

37 Areas considered Introduction Three orientations to animal welfare The five domains model Quality of life Scaling quality of life Starting animal welfare thinking with pain Concluding remarks

38 Scaling Quality of Life Here we will explore the following concepts: A life not worth living * A life worth avoiding # Point of balance A life worth living * A good life * *FAWC # Yeates (2011)

39 Scaling Quality of Life A life not worth living FAWC (2009) All ve experiences, on balance, outweigh all +ve experiences Veterinary or husbandry remedies should be applied At the extreme animals should be euthanised BUT this category includes both easily remedied AND intractable ve states

40 Scaling Quality of Life A life not worth living FAWC (2009) All ve experiences, on balance, outweigh all +ve experiences Veterinary or husbandry remedies should be applied At the extreme animals should be euthanised BUT this category includes both easily remedied AND intractable ve states A life worth avoiding Yeates (2011) Proposed as an alternative to A life not worth living Less of an implication that the animal would be better off dead

41 Scaling Quality of Life We recommend that: Green & Mellor (2011) A life not worth living be reserved for extreme ve imbalances in QoL where euthanasia would be required

42 Scaling Quality of Life We recommend that: Green & Mellor (2011) A life not worth living be reserved for extreme ve imbalances in QoL where euthanasia would be required A life worth avoiding be reserved for the remaining ve QoL imbalances that respond to veterinary or husbandry remedies

43 Scaling Quality of Life We recommend that: Green & Mellor (2011) A life not worth living be reserved for extreme ve imbalances in QoL where euthanasia would be required A life worth avoiding be reserved for the remaining ve QoL imbalances that respond to veterinary or husbandry remedies Point of balance indicate where the overall QoL changes from ve and +ve, and vice versa

44 Scaling Quality of Life A life worth living FAWC (2009) All +ve experiences, on balance, outweigh all -ve experiences

45 Scaling Quality of Life A life worth living FAWC (2009) All +ve experiences, on balance, outweigh all -ve experiences Practically achieved, at least, by good husbandry, handling, transport and veterinary care, and good stockmanship And the manner of death should be humane It should result when all minimum standards in codes of practice or welfare are met

46 Scaling Quality of Life A life worth living FAWC (2009) All +ve experiences, on balance, outweigh all -ve experiences Practically achieved, at least, by good husbandry, handling, transport and veterinary care, and good stockmanship And the manner of death should be humane It should result when all minimum standards in codes of practice or welfare are met It does not exclude ve experiences if the overall balance is +ve Short periods of pain leading to QoL benefits, e.g. tailing or other therapies

47 Scaling Quality of Life A good life FAWC (2009) All +ve experiences greatly outweigh all -ve experiences Achieved by far higher standards than code minima Must comply with all best practice recommendations: Disease controlled and treated by the strictest measures Behavioural expression is encouraged Environmental choices are available Harmless wants and needs are met Mutilations are restricted or banned Certain husbandry practices are prescribed (+ve) or banned (-ve) Opportunities for animals comfort, pleasure, interest, confidence Highest standards of veterinary care Above all else, the highest standards of husbandry

48 Scaling Quality of Life So the scale would look like this: A good life A life worth living Point of balance A life worth avoiding A life not worth living Two categories above and two below the point of balance One extreme and the other less so There as strengths and weaknesses with these categories Categories are not useful for AW regulations The reasons are discussed by Green & Mellor (2012)

49 Areas considered Introduction Three orientations to animal welfare The five domains Quality of life Scaling quality of life Starting animal welfare thinking with pain Concluding remarks

50 Starting Animal Welfare Thinking with Pain A strategy for institutions or individuals in the early stages of the animal welfare journey

51 Starting Animal Welfare Thinking with Pain A strategy for institutions or individuals in the early stages of the animal welfare journey Biological function perspectives on AW usually adopted Affective state perspectives are sometimes resisted

52 Starting Animal Welfare Thinking with Pain A strategy for institutions or individuals in the early stages of the animal welfare journey Biological function perspectives on AW usually adopted Affective state perspectives are sometimes resisted Making the transition from biological function thinking to affective state thinking

53 Starting Animal Welfare Thinking with Pain A strategy for institutions or individuals in the early stages of the animal welfare journey Biological function perspectives on AW usually adopted Affective state perspectives are sometimes resisted Making the transition from biological function thinking to affective state thinking A good place to start is with PAIN This is because of the major attributes of pain

54 Starting Animal Welfare Thinking with Pain Attributes of Pain: It can be a most unpleasant experience in humans Depending on its intensity, duration and character it can cause great suffering

55 Starting Animal Welfare Thinking with Pain Attributes of Pain: It can be a most unpleasant experience in humans Depending on its intensity, duration and character it can cause great suffering Most veterinarians and others now accepted that animals can feel pain and may suffer as a result Pain has many causes injuries and pathological states So it has many manifestations; for example

56 Manifestations of pain Aching Burning Beating Throbbing Shooting Bursting Boring Sharp Smarting Drawing Hot iron Electricity Pulling Soreness Stinging Gripping Knife-like Pricking Cramping Stabbing Needle-like Nagging Toothache Tingling Sense of pressure Tearing Itching Gnawing Hot cords Neville Gregory (2004). Physiology & Behaviour of Animal Suffering - Blackwell

57 Starting Animal Welfare Thinking with Pain Attributes of Pain: Pain may also be: Acute Chronic Localized Generalized Physical Emotional Adaptive Maladaptive More than one type can be present at the same time

58 Starting Animal Welfare Thinking with Pain Attributes of Pain: Focusing on pain avoidance and pain management therefore covers many causes of welfare compromise

59 Starting Animal Welfare Thinking with Pain Attributes of Pain: Focusing on pain avoidance and pain management therefore covers many causes of welfare compromise This contrasts with the far fewer individual causes of thirst, hunger, nausea, breathlessness and sickness Of course, these feelings are important and do merit attention, but, as a strategy, initially focusing on pain may be more effective in promoting good animal welfare practices

60 Starting Animal Welfare Thinking with Pain Attributes of Pain: Focusing on pain avoidance and pain management therefore covers many causes of welfare compromise This contrasts with the far fewer individual causes of thirst, hunger, nausea, breathlessness and sickness Of course, these feelings are important and do merit attention, but, as a strategy, initially focusing on pain may be more effective in promoting good animal welfare practices Moreover, pain is easily understood by most people as having the potential to be extremely unpleasant But making a strong link between human experience and animal pain experience will be important.

61 Areas considered Introduction Three orientations to animal welfare The five domains Quality of life Scaling quality of life Starting animal welfare thinking with pain Concluding remarks

62 Concluding Remarks We have considered the following areas: Three orientations to animal welfare The five domains Quality of life Scaling quality of life And finally: Starting animal welfare thinking with pain

63 Concluding Remarks We have not discussed the science. BUT virtually all of the ideas I have talked about have been developed by reference to rigorous scientific investigations over many decades. The disciplines include: behavioural, biochemical, nutritional, environmental, genetic, clinical/health, neurological, physiological, psychological sciences. Of course numerous other disciplines have impact: ethics, law, sociology, political science, etc.

64 THANK YOU