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Veterinary Medicine vocabulary · Nutrition, Husbandry and Welfare

Animal welfare

Meaning in veterinary medicine, with examples

/ˈænɪməl ˈwelfeə/nounCore term

In veterinary medicine, animal welfare means: The physical and mental state of an animal and how well its needs are met, including health, suitable food and shelter, normal behaviour and freedom from pain and fear.

In Turkish: hayvan refahı

How it is used

A core part of every vet's job and legal duty. Vets refer to the Five Freedoms or the Five Domains model, carry out welfare assessments and may report welfare concerns. Welfare is also checked during transport and at slaughter.

Example sentences

  1. Keeping a parrot alone in a small cage raises animal welfare concerns.

  2. The new rules aim to improve animal welfare during long-distance transport.

Common collocations

  • animal welfare concern
  • welfare assessment
  • Five Freedoms
  • welfare standards
  • improve animal welfare
  • husbandryThe everyday care and management of farm animals, including housing, feeding, breeding, hygiene and handling.
  • euthanasiaEnding an animal's life painlessly, usually with an overdose of an anaesthetic drug, to stop suffering that cannot be relieved.
  • livestockAnimals kept on farms to produce meat, milk, eggs, wool or other products, such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry.
  • companion animalAn animal kept mainly for company rather than for food, work or profit, such as a dog, cat, rabbit or pet bird. It is a more formal word for pet.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Nutrition, Husbandry and Welfare

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.