Welfare of sheep: Providing for welfare in an extensive environment

摘要: As a species traditionally managed extensively, at least for some of the year, sheep have received relatively little attention from welfare perspective. Although extensively animals greater behavioural freedom than those intensively, they are still vulnerable to other challenges. Welfare can be considered perspective biological functioning, naturalness way in which kept, or their feelings (negative positive). These different domains integrated by considering animal (and adaptations it possesses) and environment (made up challenges experiences). In this schema, may experience poor if environmental overwhelm its evolved coping strategies (for example, high temperatures physiological cannot dissipate heat sufficiently) has (such as anti-predator responses) that no longer required. To assess sheep, therefore, we need know when begin suffer do not meet presented cost meeting is too great. addition, possess will affect how well copes, e.g. breed differences maternal behaviour responses predators influence lamb survival predation risk extensive environments, respectively. How needs never been tested. However, consideration habitat wild suggests preferred features, such escape terrain specific birth sites, present farmed environments. affects determined. Sheep also affected quality stockperson caring them. Interactions with people infrequent, but nearly always aversive, whether nature interactions attitude behaviour, seen intensively species, remains seen. There evidence, however, farmers under-estimate negative impact themselves sheepdogs on sheep. Farmer management decisions an indirect For farmer attitudes towards lameness related treatment decisions. The thus provides particular differ markedly intensive systems, further investigation.