The five freedoms are the animal's well-being, including its
physical and mental condition. We consider that good animal welfare means both
fitness and a sense of well-being. At the very least, any animal raised by
humans should be protected from unnecessary suffering.
The starting point for Five Freedoms was a 1965 British
parliamentary inquiry into animal welfare in extensive animal production
systems, which focused attention on the need for all farm animals to be able to
stand, lie down, turn, and extend their limbs. And take care of all parts of
the body.
A few years later, in 1979, at the instigation of Professor
John Webster, the UK's Farm Animal Advisory Committee (later called the Farm
Animal Welfare Council or FAWC) expanded this concept to include the physical
and mental needs of animals, such as avoiding fear, distress, and being able to
express Normal behavior. What emerged were five separate "freedoms"
that together provided a simple but comprehensive way of looking at the state
of animal welfare. The inclusion of psychological needs was an important step forward
in recognizing animal sense. In 1993, the original Five Freedoms were updated
with explanations on how each freedom should be met. They are:
Leave a Comment