The Welfare Aggregation and Guidance (WAG) Tool: A New Method to Summarize Global Welfare Assessment Data for Equids

Abstract

Animal welfare can be represented by an array of indicators. There is, however, increasing demand for concise welfare assessments that can be easily communicated and compared. Previous methods to aggregate welfare assessments have focused on livestock systems and produced a single welfare score, which may not represent all aspects of welfare. We propose an aggregation method for the recently developed Equid Assessment Research and Scoping (EARS) welfare assessment tool that results in grades for five welfare categories: housing conditions, working conditions, health, nutrition, and behavior. We overcome the problems associated with existing approaches by using a single aggregation method (decision trees) that incorporates the most important welfare indicators in a single step. The process aims to identify equids with the poorest welfare and aid decision-making when allocating resources. We demonstrate its application using a case study of over 6000 equids across Europe and Asia, where equids in India and Pakistan had the poorest welfare status in terms of health (respiratory disease and open wounds) and behavior (signs of fear and distress, and limb tethering practices). We recommend identification of the specific causes of these issues, using either existing detailed welfare data or through issue-specific assessments by an appropriate professional, to guide the development of appropriate interventions and, ultimately, improve equid welfare.

A New Framework for Assessing Equid Welfare: A Case Study of Working Equids in Nepalese Brick Kilns

“…The WAG tool was used to summarise the welfare conditions of equids in brick kilns following the same methodology as Kubasiewicz et al [ 15 ]. In brief, the WAG tool uses key indicator questions from EARS relating to nutrition, health, behavior, working and housing conditions to assign welfare grades for each of these categories for a population of equids.…”

“…A wide spectrum of welfare issues can be encountered throughout the world depending on differences in environment [ 9 ], levels of urbanisation [ 10 ], and the type of work equids conduct [ 3 , 5 , 11 , 12 ]. Associated welfare concerns are equally varied, with equids reported to experience poor body condition [ 12 ] and abnormal hoof shape in agricultural settings in Guatemala [ 13 ], malnutrition and harness-related wounds in the markets of Ethiopia [ 14 ] and high levels of respiratory disease and cases of tethering in draft and pack animals in Pakistan [ 15 ] and Egypt [ 16 ]. Whilst an array of welfare issues are known to exist, research into the prevalence of these problems within large populations and their relationship to demographic status remains sparse [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

“…The EARS assessments draw on both animal- and resource-based questions to build a comprehensive understanding of equid welfare [ 11 , 23 , 24 ]. The Welfare Aggregation and Guidance (WAG) tool builds on the EARS tool by providing a rapid, repeatable and transparent method for grading equid welfare [ 15 ]. By aggregating the most indicative measures of welfare from the EARS assessments at the population level, the WAG process results in separate grades for five welfare categories: housing conditions, working conditions, health, nutrition and behaviour.…”

“…By aggregating the most indicative measures of welfare from the EARS assessments at the population level, the WAG process results in separate grades for five welfare categories: housing conditions, working conditions, health, nutrition and behaviour. The WAG tool overcomes problems associated with other welfare aggregation approaches by using a single aggregation method [ 15 ]. The WAG process identifies groups of equids with the poorest levels of welfare and provides a standardised system to aid decision making when allocating resources and monitor the efficacy of interventions to improve equid welfare [ 15 ].…”

“…The WAG tool overcomes problems associated with other welfare aggregation approaches by using a single aggregation method [ 15 ]. The WAG process identifies groups of equids with the poorest levels of welfare and provides a standardised system to aid decision making when allocating resources and monitor the efficacy of interventions to improve equid welfare [ 15 ].…”