The Sciences of Animal Welfare / Edition 1

by David Mellor, Emily Patterson-Kane, Kevin J. Stafford

Overview

The Sciences of Animal Welfare analyses the diverse, interconnecting subjects which constitute this fascinating multidisciplinary field, whilst also considering the limitations and benefits of those subjects to the development and future of Animal Welfare Science. This book examines past, present and future practices and thinking, including the wide-ranging interests within society that influence attitudes towards animals and conversely how animal welfare scientists may influence those attitudes.

Key themes of the book include:

• Multi-disciplinary working and its benefits: how we can obtain fresh insights, enliven our thinking and improve animal welfare by operating widely within diverse disciplines
• Questioning the fundamental assumptions we each make about animals and their functional capabilities.

The authors acknowledge the field's debt to past successes in animal-based science disciplines, successes that markedly improved animal welfare long before the concept of animal welfare entered common parlance. They also recognise the problems which unexpectedly arose, and anticipate future successes.

Suggesting innovative approaches to Animal Welfare Science, and written by world renowned experts, The Sciences of Animal Welfare is essential reading for anyone interested, studying or currently working in Animal Welfare Science.

This book is part of the UFAW/Wiley-Blackwell Animal Welfare Book Series. This major series of books produced in collaboration between UFAW (The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare), and Wiley-Blackwell provides an authoritative source of information on worldwide developments, current thinking and best practice in the field of animal welfare science and technology. For details of all of the titles in the series see www.wiley.com/go/ufaw.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781405134958
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	08/24/2009
Series:	UFAW Animal Welfare , #5
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

David J Mellor is Professor of Animal Welfare Science, Professor of Applied Physiology and Bioethics, and Co-Director of the Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre at Massey University, New Zealand.

Emily Patterson-Kane is an Animal Welfare Scientist at the American Veterinary Medical Association in Illinois, USA.

Kevin J Stafford is Professor of Veterinary Ethology and Co-Director of the Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre at Massey University, New Zealand.

UFAW, founded 1926, is an internationally recognised, independent, scientific and educational animal welfare charity. This book is an excellent new edition to the UFAW series.

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Table of Contents

Foreword.

Preface.

Acknowledgements.

Part 1 Introduction.

1 Focus of Animal Welfare.

Part 2 Paths from the Past.

2 Agricultural Sciences and Animal Welfare: Crop Production and Animal Production.

3 Veterinary Science and Animal Welfare.

4 Genetics, Biotechnology and Animal Breeding: Mixed Blessings.

Part 3 Assessment of Animal Welfare.

5 Animal Welfare, Grading Compromise and Mitigating Suffering.

6 Standardized Behavioural Testing in Non-Verbal Humans and Other Animals.

Part 4 Human Inputs and Animal Welfare.

7 Human–Animal Interactions and Animal Welfare.

8 Environmental Enrichment: Studying the Nature of Nurture.

9 Social Contexts of Animal Welfare.

Part 5 Thinking Outside the Box.

10 Integrated Perspectives: Sleep, Developmental Stage and Animal Welfare.

11 The Wider Context of Animal Welfare Science.

References.

Index.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Marcella Ridgway, VMD, MS, DACVIM (University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)
Description: Current concepts in the understanding and study of animal welfare and the interrelationships of the multiple disciplines which contribute to the broader field of animal welfare science are the subject of this book.
Purpose: It is intended to describe the many facets of animal welfare science and to address the history, advances, and future directions of this varied field. The purpose of the authors, though not clearly specified, appears to be to provide objective data and considerations of multiple assessments and perspectives which can then inform readers' perceptions and evolving understanding of the field and of animal welfare issues.
Audience: This book has a diverse audience, and includes those associated with agricultural, research, and sport/entertainment use of animals; with care and breeding of companion animals; and with determining animal-related legislation and addressing other societal issues related to animals and their management. The three authors bring tremendous expertise, diversity of experience, and openness to new perspectives to produce a balanced document that can serve as a foundation for new perspectives and direction.
Features: A general description of the animal welfare field and pertinent history of the development and evolution of the discipline begins the book, including how developments in agricultural and veterinary sciences, biotechnology, and animal breeding fueled the need for and contributed to the development of an animal welfare specialty. Scientific techniques and research designs that are applicable to the objective study of animal welfare issues are explained. The book goes on to describe the changing role of animals in society and human relationships with animals as well as the global diversity of human-animal interactions and animal welfare issues. The book is formatted in a particularly useful manner, with a summary phrase introducing each section that enhances readability and retention of the material and also increases the book's utility as a reference.
Assessment: This book brings together in one resource information that has previously been available only in small fragments widely distributed throughout the literature of different disciplines and, additionally, highlights the unifying concepts in a very diverse discipline. It provides a solid foundation for understanding and developing perspective on issues of animal welfare which have previously been addressed by varied facets of society in a more abstract manner. The authors present their well-informed opinions but advocate strongly as well for the application of objective measurement techniques and evidence-based approaches to inform the evolution of the field. The use of summary phrases to introduce each new thought or section is an outstanding approach to presenting the information, which other books would do well to adopt.

Doody's Review Service

"The book is appropriately organized and clearly written, and there are abundant reference citations.
Each chapter starts with a detailed outline to quickly guide readers to the paragraph of interest. " (Vet Med Today, 15 June 2010)

"Provides a clearly reasoned and thorough theoretical framework for the evaluation and solution of animal welfare problems in the highly technological environment in which many veterinarians work. Veterinarians, managers, and technicians involved with intensive animal care and use programs in any setting will find this book extremely valuable... The book requires readers to pay close attention, but it will reward them with a valuable new perspective and approach to solving critical problems." (JAVMA, June 2010)

"Provides a solid foundation for understanding and developing perspective on issues of animal welfare which have previously been addressed by varied facets of society in a more abstract manner. The authors present their well-informed opinions but advocate strongly as well for the application of objective measurement techniques and evidence-based approaches to inform the evolution of the field. The use of summary phrases to introduce each new thought or section is an outstanding approach to presenting the information, which other books would do well to adopt." (Doody's,  February 2010)

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