Editing Animal welfare (section)

===New welfarism===

New welfarism was coined by [[Gary L. Francione]] in 1996.<ref name=Francione /> It is a view that the best way to prevent animal suffering is to abolish the causes of animal suffering, but advancing animal welfare is a goal to pursue in the short term. Thus, for instance, new welfarists want to phase out fur farms and animal experiments but in the short-term they try to improve conditions for the animals in these systems, so they lobby to make cages less constrictive and to reduce the numbers of animals used in laboratories.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ar-conference.com/details.php?id=9|title=Rights theory, welfarism, and the "new welfarist" amalgamation: A critical perspective|author=De Villiers, J-H.|year=2013|access-date=20 October 2013|archive-date=10 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610231645/http://www.ar-conference.com/details.php?id=9|url-status=live}}</ref>

Within the context of [[animal testing|animal research]], many scientific organisations believe that improved animal welfare will provide improved scientific outcomes. If an animal in a laboratory is suffering stress or [[pain]] it could negatively affect the results of the research.If a researcher wants to conduct an experiment, they must meet up with the 3R’s (replacement, reduction, and refinement). They must show how they’re going to put their plan into action. The ethics committee are to review the plan and check if all principles are being followed and ensure the benefits justify the harm of these animals. The 3R’s are meant to lessen the use of animals in research and lessen any suffering.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/how/the-three-Rs|title=How do we do research with animals?|publisher=Understanding Animal Research|year=2013|access-date=21 October 2013|archive-date=17 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017195732/http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/how/the-three-Rs|url-status=live}}</ref>

Increased affluence in many regions for the past few decades afforded consumers the disposable income to purchase products from high welfare systems.<ref>Phillips 2009. pp 60–63.</ref> The adaptation of more economically efficient farming systems in these regions were at the expense of animal welfare and to the financial benefit of consumers, both of which were factors in driving the demand for higher welfare for farm animals.{{clarify|date=April 2014}} A 2006 survey concluded that a majority (63%) of EU citizens "show some willingness to change their usual place of shopping in order to be able to purchase more animal welfare-friendly products."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_270_en.pdf|title=Attitudes of EU citizens towards animal welfare|author=Euroballot|publisher=European Commission|year=2007|access-date=21 October 2013|archive-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103221518/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_270_en.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
The volume of scientific research on animal welfare has also increased significantly in some countries.<ref>Phillips 2009. p 60.</ref>