UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

LECTURER: PROFESSOR MOSES TEYE

PROGRAMME: MPIL ANIMAL SCIENCE (NUTRITION)

LEVEL: LEVEL 800, FIRST SEMESTER 2022/2023 ACADEMIC YEAR.
REGISTRATION NUMBER: AG/MAN/22/0003
COURSE CODE & TITLE: AAS 841 ANIMAL WELFARE AND ETHICS
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 5TH MAY, 2023.
The state of animal welfare in Ghana: reasons for the possible state and the way
forward

1.1 Introduction

World health organization for Animal Health considers an animal to be in a good state of
welfare if it is healthy, comfortable, well-nourished, and able to express innate behaviour and
not suffering from pain, fear or distress (WOAH 2008). According to (Fraser et al., 1997),
animal welfare embraces both the physical and mental health of animals. It consists of three
pillars: animal health, natural living and affective states. Farm animal welfare therefore
requires that animals are physically healthy, that they have the opportunity to live a
reasonably natural life and that animals have minimal negative psychological states and at
least some positive psychological states. This definition of animal welfare based on the three
pillars does not have a direct pendant in many societies of developing countries (Doyle et al.,
2019; Carnovale et al., 2021; Chen and Weary, 2021). From the above definition and
explanation of welfare, it implies that, the primary objective of animal welfare is to promote
the physical and mental health of animals and positive effects that promote well-being. It is
now widely recognized that animals are sentient creatures that are aware of their
surroundings and can remember and suffer painful experiences. It is therefore obvious that
their welfare is promoted to prevent suffering. The "five freedoms" listed in the definition can
be used to assess the welfare of farm animals. The management conditions to which an
animal is exposed determine whether its wellbeing status is good, poor, or something in
between these two extremes. Excellent management, especially those elements that
encourage the manifestation of intrinsic behaviours, is the fundamental way in which
excellent wellbeing can be improved. Poor animal welfare may show up as a high death rate,
abnormal behaviour, decreased reproduction, or a significant tick and internal parasite load.

Animal welfare has recently gained attention, with most organizations such as The Brooke
Hospital for Animals, World Animal Protection, The Donkey Sanctuary, World Horse
Welfare, African Network for Animal Welfare and many others championing the course.
However, animal welfare issues in Ghana are complex and often given little or no attention at
different stages of production such as; on-farm treatment, loading and unloading of animals
into transport vehicles, and the transport itself. Mental and physical harm can also occur
shortly after birth through separation of the mother/siblings, during cultural rituals, during
lairage, on livestock markets, or during stunning and slaughter.

On-farm treatment

Livestock farmers from most rural communities in Ghana depend largely on either extensive
or semi-intensive systems of productions. This means animals are allowed to move about
freely to fend for themselves under the extensive system. While those in the semi-intensive
systems also fend for themselves during the day and receive little or no food later in the day.
Though animals under these management systems enjoy a sufficient level of comfort,
expressing of normal behaviour and minimal pain or injury, they are however exposed to
harsh weather conditions, disease susceptibility and outbreaks.

In addition, traditional farming methods that are fuelled by animals are frequently used by
farmers. Bullocks and donkeys used for such purposes are regularly given inadequate
amounts of water, food, or rest, or they may even be physically abused by being beaten
during ploughing and conveying of goods. Also, livestock farmers carry out some mutilations
such as castration, debeaking, dehorning etc. on animals at their farms which subject them to
pain and injury. Such handling and practices do not meet all the criteria for health and
welfare as enshrined in the ‘five freedom’ framework: Freedom from hunger and thirst,
discomfort, pain, injury, disease fear and distress, as well as the freedom to express normal
behaviour.

Loading and unloading of animals into transport vehicles and during transportation.

due to several reasons such as; economic or climatic factors, cultural norms, lack of
veterinary service, awareness of animal welfare, inadequate legal policy provisions and as
well as inadequate capacity to monitor and minimize cruelty to animals. This is further
complicated by differences in people’s beliefs and understanding of what is meant by welfare
(Bayvel et al.,2008).