Scientists say animal welfare is not just about survival; it may depend on feelings, choices, and control

Previous animal welfare science research had focused on visible parameters such as injury, illness, nutrition, and mortality rates. Yet, there is now evidence that the welfare of an animal can hardly be explained only based on the state of its body. One example is the study conducted by experts from the journal Frontiers in Animal Science in 2026. They propose the concept of the "teleonomic" framework, meaning how an animal regulates its behavioral, physiological, perceptive, and emotional systems continuously for the sake of survival and adaptation.

The reason why the teleonomic model is important is that, unlike previous models of animal welfare science, it places emotions much closer to its primary aspects. This framework argues that animals have biological systems through which they analyze information from the environment, organize their priorities, and adjust their reactions accordingly. According to teleonomy, emotions are no longer seen as consequences of behavior but rather as important factors that help animals make crucial decisions based on their priorities in particular environments.

The teleonomic framework treats animals as adaptive decision-makers

The teleonomic approach involves multiple interacting systems. These include senses, physiology, behavior, and affect. As regards this, the systems in question allow for the continuous adaptation of animals through ecological selection. According to an article in Frontiers, affects allow for “detection of significance, resolution of competing demands, and modulation of responses throughout their lives.” It simply means that animal emotions like fear, comfort, stress, or curiosity may act as guides to biological behaviors of animals.


It should be noted that there are some serious welfare considerations within the given framework. Specifically, according to the traditional view, the animal welfare system concentrates more on animal pain relief but ignores whether animals have the opportunity to behave as animals do and exert certain control over the environment around them. On the contrary, there is a very good description of animal welfare consideration in the RSPCA science review. In particular, animal welfare is seen as an adaptive pathway shaped by the environment, experience, physiology, and the needs of the species in question.

Emotional regulation may play a larger role in survival than previously recognized

One of the most important elements in the framework is attention towards emotional regulation itself. In the paper published in Frontiers, affective states allow organisms to manage their behavior, allocate resources, and synchronize biological processes necessary for their survival. In simple words, emotions may have effects not only on actions performed at the present moment but on motivation, learning, sociability, and adaptiveness as well. The framework also encourages more attention towards the role of environmental enrichment. Environmental enrichment, highlighted by Frontiers, may lead to greater flexibility, psychological well-being, enhanced immunity, and increased tolerance to stress, among other benefits.

The relevance of the above-mentioned applied welfare approach to the welfare theory is that it is important for bridging theory and practice regarding the treatment and management of farm animals. The particular interest of applying teleonomy to welfare theory is that it obliges scientists to question not only the survival characteristics of an animal but also the very essence of survival. Instead of assessing the welfare of the animal through health characteristics, we try to learn about the way the animal deals with its emotions and choices.