Animal health and welfare are closely interconnected, yet livestock production worldwide faces significant and persistent challenges. Infectious diseases such as Avian Influenza, African Swine Fever, and Bluetongue continue to cause widespread animal suffering, severe economic losses, and public health concerns. Traditionally, responses to these challenges have relied on biosecurity measures, vaccination strategies, and antimicrobial treatments. While these remain essential, there is growing recognition that improving animal welfare is equally critical in preventing and managing disease. Better welfare practices, particularly those aimed at reducing stress, can enhance animals' resilience and immune function, making them less susceptible to infections, especially in cases of less virulent pathogens or endemic diseases. Therefore, this topic will explore the update results in building the links between animal welfare and animal health across different countries.
This Research Topic seeks to highlight welfare-based innovations that prevent disease, improve health, develop technologies and contribute to sustainable and resilient livestock production worldwide.
The overarching goal of this Research Topic is to raise global awareness and foster knowledge exchange on innovative animal welfare practices that contribute to better animal and public health. By showcasing practical solutions and scientific advances, it seeks to promote resilience in livestock systems and ultimately reduce the reliance on antimicrobial use. It will provide a platform for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share insights on how welfare-driven strategies can enhance both animal health and farming sustainability, supporting the long-term transformation of animal agriculture.
With a special focus on practical and innovative solutions for global livestock production. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
1. Innovations to support animal health and welfare, with a focus on digital technologies.
2. Increasing animal resilience through better welfare, also aiming to reduce the need to use antimicrobials.
3. How to use animal behaviour as an (early) indicator of health problems.
4. Capacity building, and policies promoting welfare and health.
5. Cross-disciplinary approaches linking welfare, public health, and sustainable food systems.
Keywords: Animal Welfare； Innovation；Animal Health；Antimicrobial Use；Reduction
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
