Good animal welfare by design: An approach to incorporate animal capacities in engineering design

H.J.E. van Weeghel, A.P. Bos, M.H. Jansen, W.W. Ursinus and P.W.G. Groot Koerkamp

Agricultural Systems, 2021, vol. 191, issue C

Abstract: In systems design for livestock husbandry, the tendency is to focus on technical measures and to control the behaviour of animals in order to reduce complexity and make system functioning predictable, thereby often treating animals as agricultural objects. However, treating animals as agents and providing in opportunities for animal agency – defined as being able to control the (social and physical) environment through choice and decision-making by the animal based on individual preferences and demands – is recognized as being important in having positive experiences and in achieving good animal welfare. The opportunity of an animal to use one's capacities to control one's environment is important for the animal herself, and, at the same time, can contribute to the functioning of the system.

Keywords: Positive animal welfare; Animal capacities; Engineering design; Reflexive interactive design (RIO); Brief of capacities; Sustainable development; Animal production systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agisys:v:191:y:2021:i:c:s0308521x21001074

DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103154

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