ARS Animal Well-Being & Stress Control Systems National Program (105)

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National Programs Animal Well-Being & Stress Control Systems

Measures of well-being are needed to give producers and consumers the information they need to evaluate management practices and determine which techniques best assure the well-being of animals used for food production. Development of scientific measures of well-being and an enhanced ability to interpret such measures is crucial to the evaluation of current agriculture practices and development of improved alternatives. The research strategy will focus on indicators of animal well-being that can be refined and applied to the assessment of individual management conditions. Stress caused by social and environmental stressors and the interaction of social and environmental stressors need to be understood to limit negative impacts on production efficiency and well-being. Animal well-being research will benefit animals, producers, and ultimately consumers, by reducing animal health-care costs and by improving food production efficiencies. Lack of sensitivity to animal welfare issues may be used in domestic marketing and as an artificial trade barrier of animal products in world markets.

Projects in this Program - by State

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Maroon = click to see related projects in these states.
Gray = No related research in this state.