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Lesley Wiseman-Orr presents Poster 37 during the poster sessions in the Aula.
Session theme 4: Assessing health status of groups of animals in relation to welfare
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Poster 37
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE
INSTRUMENT FOR USE WITH FARMED PIGS
M.L. Wiseman-Orr 1 , E.M. Scott 1 , A.M. Nolan 2 , D.A. Sandercock 2
1 Department of Statistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
2 Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
Modern pig farming methods such as tail docking and mixing of ‘unfamiliars’ may have health and
quality of life (QOL) consequences for adult pigs. A project was undertaken to investigate such
impacts, with the development of a suitable QOL measurement tool. At the outset, it was necessary
to define the construct to be measured in the context of groups of animals.
The contemporary focus in QOL measurement for people and animals is on individuals’ experience
of their circumstances. However, objective indicators of those circumstances are also important, in
order that habituation to poorer environments does not mitigate poorer provision. Objective
indicators for QOL in farmed animals are framed in the ‘five freedoms’ and detailed in relevant
animal welfare legislation that provides criteria against which provision can be measured. However,
for the valid measurement of QOL it is essential also to identify appropriate subjective indicators
that capture the individual’s experience. Scores on both then compose the measured QOL for an
individual. Where standard husbandry practices are applied to a group of phenotypically similar
individuals, limited variability in QOL should result. However, illness or injury may have a
significant impact, so the term health-related quality of life, (HRQL) is appropriate, where objective
indicators include health status.
Consequently, we define the construct to be measured - HRQL of farmed pigs - as a combination of
the individual’s circumstances, which include health status, and its affective response to those
circumstances; group-level measurement is achieved by the distribution of HRQL scores for
individuals in that group.
A psychometric approach to instrument development was taken, with interviews conducted with
experienced farmers and stockpersons (1 female, 20 male). Analysis provided details of relevant
observations, and descriptions of potential subjective indicators of HRQL, including behaviour
relating to appetite, activity, social interaction with pigs and stockpersons, playfulness and
demeanour.
Contact information: Lesley Wiseman-Orr or email l.wiseman@stats.gla.ac.uk
Complete address: Department of Statistics, Mathematics Building, University Garden,s University
of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QW, UK
Species: Pig