Quantifying pain laying hens: A blueprint for the comparative analysis of welfare in animals

Abstract

Despite the vastness and wonder of the universe and the undeniable existence of consciousness in various forms, many struggle to extend this recognition to non-human animals. Despite this moral paradox, most find it unacceptable to harm animals directly. Animal welfare science aims to quantify the subjective experiences of non-verbal animals, particularly negative ones, to guide interventions aimed at reducing suffering. This book presents a framework for describing and comparing the impact of different living conditions on the welfare of laying hens, with the hope that it can be applied to other species and animal production systems. The authors highlight the need for more research on the duration and intensity of aversive experiences faced by animals to inform effective interventions and call for feedback and collaboration to refine and expand this systematic effort. – AI-generated abstract.