Advances in Sheep Welfare

Introduction
1. Advances in understanding in the biology and natural behavior of sheep
2. Overview of sheep production systems
3. Consumer and societal expectations for sheep products (meat and wool)

Part I: New advances in sheep welfare assessment
4. New developments in our understanding of sheep cognition and emotional states
5. New physiological measures that indicate the biological cost of the challenge
6. On-farm welfare risk assessment and management

Part II: Advances in sheep handling and management
7. Introduction to advances in sheep handling and management
8. Genetic solutions
9. Reproductive management
10. Nutritional management
11. Predation control
12. Managing disease risks
13. Painful husbandry procedures
14. Transport and pre-slaughter management
15. Advanced livestock management solutions
16. Optimized welfare for sheep in research and teaching

Part III: Sheep welfare: 2030 and beyond
17. Future welfare challenges and what is required in our capacity to manage them
18. Potential for predicting and proactively managing emerging problems

Advances in Sheep Welfare examines the recent advances made in sheep welfare assessment, handling and management providing state-of-the-art coverage of the welfare needs of one of the world’s most widely farmed animals.

The book is divided into three main sections. The first deals with advances in sheep welfare assessment with chapters covering sheep cognition, physiological measures and welfare risk assessment and management. The second section covers advances in sheep handling and management. Chapters within this section provide information on the latest developments from around the world in genetic solutions, reproductive and nutritional management, managing disease risks and painful husbandry procedures amongst others. The final section looks ahead to the future, and to what sheep welfare will look like in 2030 and beyond.

The book is an essential part of the wider ranging series Advances in Agricultural Animal Welfare, with coverage of cattle, pigs, poultry and aquaculture.

With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors, Advances in Sheep Welfare is set to be a standard reference for welfare research scientists and students, practising vets involved in welfare assessment, and indeed anyone with a professional interest in the welfare of sheep.

• Brings together top researchers in the field to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the understanding of sheep welfare and management
• Presents part of a wider series, Advances in Agricultural Animal Welfare, which provides comprehensive coverage of animal welfare of the world’s major farmed animals
• Highlights current advances and looks ahead to how sheep welfare management will develop in the next ten to fifteen years

Welfare research scientists as well as postgraduate students, Practicing vets involved in welfare assessment, NGOs interested in welfare assurance