FA (Fleur) Hoorweg MSc
Researcher animal health and welfareFollow me:
What behavioural needs of animals should be fulfilled in order for the animal to live a life worth living? And what is needed to fulfill those needs?
For good animal welfare it is not only sufficient to prevent negative influences, like stress, pain or injuries. Additionally, it is important to provide opportunities for animals to experience positive emotions and perform species specific and rewarding behaviours. Furthermore, autonomy and freedom of choice are important aspects of animal welfare. Variation and a challenging environment are needed to stimulate animals mentally and physically. Good welfare results in animals that are capable of adapting to the environment to reach a positive mental state.
In my work I try to gain insight into the subjective experiences of animals to secure animal welfare.