Suffering of the sick animal and its management on the farm

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss the consequences of disease on animal well-being and to consider the best ways of managing it on thefarm. The physical well-being of the sick animal is jeopardised: the animal manifests stress-related physiological changes, adopts abnormalpostures and movements to avoid pain, and has difficulty in carrying out normal behaviour patterns, and consequently its performancedeclines. Its mental well-being is also affected. Farmers and farm advisors need to become aware of the sick animal’s suffering.Farmers need to detect and treat sick animals rapidly. The therapeutic procedures of veterinary surgeons need to be improved, with theuse of analgesics as soon as the need arises.