Animal health

Five freedoms and five domains of animal health

We know more about the importance of animal welfare today than ever before. Crucially, we understand that failures can lead to serious problems, including disease outbreaks and food supply issues. At the same time, we’re aware of the fact that happy, healthy animals perform better. Therefore, it is important to make animal health the priority.

In terms of animal welfare science, there are two key cornerstones to look at; the five freedoms and the five domains. Let’s explore them here so you can expand your knowledge.

Five freedoms

Just like humans, animals need several basic things to ensure they are happy and healthy. The five freedoms framework was developed in the 60s, following concerns about the welfare of intensely farmed animals in the UK. It became the foundation for international standards, so it is important all farmers understand it.

According to the framework, all animals should have the following freedoms to maximise animal health:

  • Hunger, thirst and malnutrition
  • Discomfort (physical and thermal)
  • Pain, injury, and disease
  • Fear and distress
  • Ability to express their normal behaviour

Five domains

Since the 60s and the development of the five freedoms, people have been looking deeper to explore other ways to improve animal health and wellbeing. In the 90s it led to the development of a new framework to assess welfare. The five domains is a great evolution of the original work.

Firstly, the framework include three physical and functional domains that are vital for survival. They are nutrition, environment, and health. There is a lot to think about here, including ensuring animals have proper access to good quality food and water. There should be no restrictions that would cause harm. Plus, the environment should be comfortable and appropriate, ensuring there is enough space, there are no issues with hygiene, and there are no stresses like excessive temperatures, odours, and poor quality air. Finally, all the factors should be there to ensure good physical health. Here you need to look at diseases (particularly prevention), injuries, and even management practices.

As well as the three domains above, the framework includes a domain for behavioural interactions. From the very first studies into animal welfare, we know how harmful it can be if animals can’t interact with their environment and each-other. They should live in environments where they have the freedom to engage, interact, play, and do species-specific activities. Crucially, there should be no barriers that could lead to negative issues like isolation or aggression.

The last domain covers the mental state of animals. Crucially, the other four domains all have an impact on this. They can be positive or negative. Therefore, it is important to consider the outcome of each, particularly the emotional response. The goal for farmers is to ensure they meet the psychological needs of animals as well as the physical.

Prioritise animal health

Raising animals is challenging, but can be incredibly rewarding. You will get the best results if you account for the five freedoms and five domains. Ultimately, it can ensure you have happier, more productive animals.

JS Hubbuck Ltd is proud to help farmers. We provide a range of fantastic products, such as feeds, wormer, and more. Even better, we can share our knowledge and offer recommendations. So, get in touch today if you need anything and get a friendly, professional service.