Animal welfare can be measured formally, with instruments, and informally, through experience-based assessments. Both are important and both should be part of any intervention. At Brooke, this is SEBWAT and other tools specific to the animal project. Community engagement tools are also used to assess human knowledge, attitudes and practices that affect animal welfare. Provides an overview of the general welfare status of working equidae, from an animal point of view as well as at group and community level. It avoids assumptions about welfare status, allowing decisions to be based on evidence rather than opinion, meaning they are more reliable and repeatable. It can be used at different stages of the project cycle, from defining a new area to monitoring and evaluation. The change is captured objectively, to reflect what is really going on rather than opinions or perceptions. There is more discipline in measuring results, they can be repeated and replicated in other places or by other people. There is more responsibility for the delivery of programs because they are based on facts and evidence. Evidence can strengthen decision-making. It stimulates the focus on the goal (what we want to achieve and less on the means (how to get there). It increases learning and knowledge gained, which in itself is a form of evidence. Examining the animal and talking to the owner and service providers will help identify the causes of welfare problems, along with data collection. This information is used to determine the necessary intervention. An explicit definition of scoring.

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With Regards
ALINA SMITH
Journal of Animal Sciences and Livestock Production