Research Report for Work Package 4.6.3, Welfare Quality Project

In the UK, the aim of work package 4.6.3 was to pilot and test the WQ assessment tool on free range chicken farms, as opposed to conventional ‘broiler farms’ in the Netherlands and Italy. The ‘broiler welfare monitor’ was carried out by animal scientists from Bristol University Veterinary School late in late 2008/ early 2009. The perception and attitudes of the farmers involved towards animal welfare, their experience and evaluation of the assessment, and their thoughts on the relevance and applicability of the results, were assessed in a sociological interview by a social scientist from Cardiff University, usually in the week following after the assessment. This report is based on the results of these interviews.