EN
The significant genetic progress, as being achieved over the recent several decades in the field of performance of farm animals must be accompanied by the improvement of their management and utilization conditions. To this end, in the seventies of the 20th century, the term “welfare” became employed as the reaction to improper treatment of livestock in the course of intensive management system, based on automated processes modeled on the solutions, used in the industry. The employed management system resulted in occurrence of many irregularities in a form of decrease of productivity level and health state of animals as well as occurrence of behavioural disorders in the animals. They lead to material losses and are also the reason for pain and suffering of livestock. For this reason, the issues related to animal welfare are important both for the farmers as well as for general public. Due to ethical reasons, the consumers wish to buy the products obtained from the animals, kept in the conditions, ensuring high level of welfare. Easy and, at the same time, objective indices for the assessment of animal welfare are still being sought.