Ovinocultura: bem-estar e seu impacto na produção animal

Abstract

In the quest to understand the concept of well-being, the knowledge of animal physiology, biology and ethology is also necessary. Thus, the development of animal husbandry that values quality of life requires respect for the five freedoms, so that the animal will be able to maintain its homeostasis and face and persevere in the face of situations imposed on it in a different environment from its natural habitat. Although sheep (Ovis aries) were one of the first species domesticated by mankind, in Brazil, a country with a flock of more than 13 million (IBGE, 2018), recommendations or specific legislations to improve the well-being of this species are not yet available. Therefore, one must always seek greater productivity while affecting as little as possible the quality of life of the animals, resulting in high quality products for human consumption, in addition to ensuring safety, comfort, sanity and optimization of the human-animal-environment relationship. Animal welfare has become an increasingly discussed topic in the area of animal production and also by the consumers, who are increasingly aware and curious about what happens in rural properties and production systems. The realization of studies in order to allow greater understanding and clarification on the theme, in its most diverse areas, is crucial in the current world scenario.