Main description:

This is the Second Edition of a well-received book that reflects a fresh, integrated coverage of the concepts and scientific measurement of stress and welfare of animals including humans. This book explains the basic biological principles of coping with many forms of adversity. The major part of this work is devoted to explaining scientifically usable concepts in stress and welfare. A wide range of welfare indicators are highlighted in detail with examples being drawn from man and other species. The necessity for combining information from disciplines is emphasized with a one-health, one-welfare approach. This information forms the basis for a synthesis of new ideas. Among the issues covered are:

- How brain and body systems regulate using feelings, physiological responses, behaviour and responses to pathology

- Limits to adaptation

- Assessing positive and negative welfare during both short-term and long-term situations

- Ethical problems and suggested solutions

A proper assessment of animal welfare is essential to take informed decisions about what is morally acceptable in terms of practice and in the development of a more effective legislation. This work encapsulates a very wide body of literature on scientific aspects of animal welfare and will thus prove a valuable asset for animal welfare scientists, psychologists, students and teachers of all forms of biology, behaviour, medicine, veterinary medicine and animal usage.

Contents:

Animal Welfare Series Preface

Preface to second edition

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1 One welfare, one health, one stress, humans and other animals

Abstract

1.1. The terms animal, welfare, health and stress

1.2. Animal welfare and social change

1.3. The debate about animal usage

1.4 Genetics, epigenetics and what the environment can change

1.5 The challenge ahead

References

Chapter 2 Adaptation, regulation, sentience and brain control

Abstract

2.1 Adaptation

2.2 Homeostatic control

2.3 Sentience and the role of the brain in coping

2.4. Habituation and sensitisation

2.5 Motivational state

2.6 Outputs from decision centres

2.7 Control systems and needs

2.8 Types of control

2.9 Pain

2.10 Other feelings and emotions: positive and negative

2.11Development of regulatory systems

References

Chapter 3 Limits to adaptation

3.1 Limitations of timing and temporal aspects of stimulus modality

3.2 Limitations of intensity as an adaptation basis for adaptation

3.3 Variation in adaptation has consequences for responses to stimulation

3.4 Integrating time, intensity and mode of stimulation

3.5 The concepts of tolerance and coping

3.6 Variations in patterns of adaptation

3.7 Other factors affecting adaptation

3.8 Effects of human selection of animals on their ability to adapt

References

Chapter 4 Stress and welfare: history and usage of concepts

Abstract

4.1 Stress

4.2 Welfare

4.3 Welfare assessment

4.4 Welfare in relation to stress

4.5 Naturalness and welfare

4.6 Welfare in relation to well-being

4.7 Welfare in relation to quality of life

4.8 Welfare and "a life worth living"

4.9 Welfare in relation to sentience

4.10 Welfare in relation to health

4.11 Linguistic problems with health and well-being

References

Chapter 5 Assessing welfare: short-term responses

Abstract

5.1 Behavioural measures of welfare

5.2 Physiological measures of welfare

5.3 Using indicators to evaluate welfare

5.4 Short-term welfare problems and concepts of stress

References

Chapter 6 Assessing welfare: long-term responses

Abstract

6.1 Direct measures of good welfare

6.2 Cognitive bias and other indirect measures of good welfare

6.3 Qualitative behavioural assessment

6.4 Reduced reproductive success

6.5 Reduced life expectancy

6.6 Weight, growth and body condition

6.7 Cardiovascular and blood parameters

6.8 Adrenal axes

6.9 Measures of immune system function

6.10 Bone strength, muscle strength and injury

6.11 Disease incidence measures

6.12 Brain measures

6.13 Behavioural measures

6.14 Other consequences of frustration and lack of control

6.15 Lack of stimulation and overstimulation

6.16 Interrelationships among measures and welfare outcome measures

References

Chapter 7 Preference studies and welfare

Abstract

7.1 Time and energy allocation in a rich environment

7.2 Experimental studies of animal preferences

7.3 Environmental enrichment

7.4 Do preference studies tell us what is important for animals?

References

Chapter 8 Ethics: considering world issues

Abstract

8.1 World problems

8.2 Value systems

8.3 Anti-microbial resistance

8.4 Climate change

8.5 Sustainability

8.6 How humans impose on other animals - and vice versa

8.7 Setting ethical limits to assessed welfare

8.8 Food production systems for the future

8.9 Stress and welfare in the general ethical framework

References

Chapter 9 Stress and welfare in the world

Abstract

9.1 Studying stress and welfare

9.2 Using the term stress scientifically

9.3 Welfare in the moral world

Glossary

Subject and Author Index