Farm animal welfare: Assessing risks attributable to the prenatal environment

摘要: An ever-expanding scientific literature highlights the impact of prenatal environment on many areas biology. Across all major farmed species, experimental studies have clearly shown that experiences can a substantial outcomes relevant to later health, welfare and productivity. In particular, stress or sub-optimal nutrition experienced by mother during pregnancy has been wide-ranging important effects how her offspring cope with their social, physical infectious environment. Variation in conditions for development provided reproductive tract egg, instance altered nutritional supply hormonal exposure, may therefore explain large degree variation welfareand productivity-relevant traits. The suggests number management practices pre-birth/hatch individuals could compromise welfare. Such relevance animals under human care, depending extent which real life involve exposure these practices. Overall, findings highlight importance extending focus animal include period, an aspect until recently largely neglected.