Current issues in animal welfare - what must be done and how do we improve?

Concern about the welfare of dairy cattle is nothing new; producers and veterinarians have always been concerned about the condition of animals in their care and have tried to ensure that they are healthy and well nourished. Although good welfare has traditionally been viewed by farmers and veterinarians to be seen as good health and production there is a growing acceptance that concerns such as pain and distress and the ability to engage in highly motivated behaviors is also of importance. In this proceedings chapter we discuss the concept of animal welfare from three different perspectives: biological functioning, affective state and natural behavior. Drawing largely on the research undertaken by our students we provide examples of how science can help provide solutions to welfare concerns that address each of these concepts. Animal welfare science addresses all three types of concern by identifying problems in production systems and developing solutions to these problems. The best solutions are win-win, improving the lives of cattle and the people that work with them.