Salmowa project WP 1 SWIM Semantic modelling an introduction March 2010 Marc Bracke (LR) Wageningen UR Supervisory Board Organisation Wageningen International, WBS, WBG Executive Board RIKILT 16 chair Plant Research International PPO Wageningen Animal Livestock Research Group Central Veterinary Institute 18 chair 10 10 leerstoelgroepen chair Agrotechnology & Food Group 17 chair Alterra 20 chair Plant Animal Agrotechn. & Food Environmental Social Van Hall/Larenstei Group Group Group Group Group LEI Van Hall/ Larenstein University of Applied Inhoud Amsterdam 3.5 meter below see level Lelystad Who am I? Study Veterinary medicine (U. Utrecht) Philosophy (U. Utrecht and Florida) MSc Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare (Edinburgh) Work Veterinary practitioner PhD Wageningen (Animal Science) Animal welfare researcher Lelystad, Livestock Research
Modelling of animal welfare The development of a decision support system to assess the welfare status of pregnant sows animal certified f w el a e r Policy/law Market Marc B. M. Bracke Responsible management of pig tails From tail biting to a curly tail for pigs Animal welfare Assessment domain Semantic modelling is formalised welfare assessment (1) What does the system look like? Various tables in a relational database The core-model is a list of attributes/assessment_criteria Output: welfare scores on a scale, e.g. from 0 to 10 Examples include SOWEL, FOWEL, PIGTAIL, RICHPIG, COWEL How does it generate an overall welfare score? Step-by-step explicit and formalised reasoning from facts to score Semantic modelling is formalised welfare assessment (2) How is the system developed? Specify the conceptual framework for scientific welfare assessment Define concepts, assessment principles, classes and procedures Select calculation rules Collect and analyse scientific information Describe (benchmark) treatments Upgrade the model: run and debug Validate the model
Definitions related to welfare assessment Norms versus ethics Animal welfare definitions (Fraser et al., 1997) Feelings (Dawkins; Duncan); Quality of life as perceived by the animal itself (Bracke et al., 1999a); Subjective experience of mental and physical state (Braastad et al., 2005) Biological functioning, e.g. Ability to cope (Broom, 1987) Natural living Other: Harmony (Van Putten; Lorz); 5 Freedoms (FAWC, 1992); Principles (Welfare Quality) Assessment domain: Assessment versus improvement strategies Only farming systems versus wider range System level versus individual animal level Here-and-now versus over whole lifespan Attributes are animal- and envir-based Conceptual framework Animal Welfare Environment (Welfare)Performance (Behaviour and (patho-)physiology) Bracke and Hopster 2006 JAGE 19: 77-89 Anonymous 2001 JAAWS 4: 3-52 Some further conceptual specifications System: hardware software; social environment Design versus performance Environment-based versus animal based Behaviour versus physiology versus health Assessment - diagnosis treatment 1 (Farmer) versus SWIM 2 (Vet), 3 (Scientist) Bracke, 2008, Animal Welfare 17: 289-304
Refs & statements: if-then relationships between design and performance Weighting Bracke, 2008, Animal Welfare 17: 289-304 Decision support system M: 88 (a) S: 58 (a) M: 75 (a) S: 20 (b) Scientific knowledge (scientific statements) food & water WELFARE MODEL Concept of welfare social contact health rest etc. Chain Straw rack/chain/pipe Attributes M: 79 (a) S: 54 (ab) M: 16 (b) S: 4 (c) Input: Description of attributes of housing systems Attribute scores & weighting factors Output: Overall welfare scores Bracke et al., 2001 JAGE 14: 321-337 Rubber hose Straw, loose Zonderland et al., 2008. AABS 110, 269-281 Bracke et al., 1999c NJAS 47: 307-322 Ingestion Food (frustr non reward) Water Rest Social contact Reproduction Sexual behaviour Nestbuild Maternal behaviour* Kinesis (movement) Exploration Explore novelty Forage Play Body care Groom/scratch Wallow* Respiration (CO2)? Territorialism? Stimulation Thermoregulation* Illness / disease (No) illness (per se) (No) injury (pain) (SFII) Safety (fear) (Melatonin spots) (No) danger (No) aggression (frustr non reward) * Which needs apply to Atlantic Salmon?
Intermezzo Questions? Wageningen UR