The contribution of applied ethology in judging animal welfare in farm animal housing systems

Abstract In 1981, the Swiss animal welfare legislation introduced an authorisation procedure for mass-produced farm animal housing systems. If appropriate, practical tests are carried out to identify animal welfare problems in systems or devices that are proposed by manufacturers. Such tests may include veterinary, physiological and behavioural measurements. We briefly review practical tests of group cages for laying hens, electric cow-trainers and farrowing crates for sows. These examples illustrate how ethological studies make important contributions in judging animal welfare. It is also stressed that the development of alternative housing systems that are adapted to the behavioural organisation of farm animals should be a major field of applied ethology.