The meaning of animal suffering and intensive animal suffering in German legislation for animal welfare

In addition to the legal interpretation of animal pain or damage, the meaning of animal suffering is very important in the German legislation for animal welfare notably to assess the requirements for the housing of farm animals intensively in terms of their behavioural and general needs. The law is based on the principle that everyone knows whether or not an animal is suffering, but in reality this can only be assessed by rigorous scientific investigation. There is currently a considerable deficit in the application of guidelines for optimum housing of farming animals. As a result there is a low standard of housing and therefore welfare for a large number of animals.