What does animal welfare refer to?

• A. Disease prevention
• B. Proper care and treatment of animals
• C. Breeding efficiency
• D. Animal rights

Answer: (B)

Animal welfare is about the well-being of animals under human care, focusing on how they are housed, fed, health monitored, and treated to prevent pain, fear, and distress. Proper care and treatment captures this broad idea because it includes providing adequate nutrition, clean and safe living conditions, regular veterinary care and disease prevention, humane handling, and opportunities to express natural behaviors.

Disease prevention matters within welfare, but welfare covers more than just keeping animals healthy. Breeding efficiency centers on production goals and reproductive performance, not the overall well-being of the animal. Animal rights represents a different ethical view that emphasizes intrinsic rights for animals, rather than the practical goal of ensuring their well-being under human care.