On behalf of the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO) and Ghent University, we like to thank for your attendance to the 4th International Workshop on the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level (WAFL).

It is the successor to the highly successful 1st, 2nd and 3rd WAFL held in Copenhagen (1999), Bristol (2002) and Vienna (2005) respectively. This three day conference is of great interest to scientists and others working in animal behaviour, health and welfare, in particular those concerned with the welfare of farm livestock, laboratory animals and other animals housed and managed in groups.

Topics of this workshop included the development of scientific and ethical principles to assess animal welfare at the farm and group level and the application and implementation of these principles to ensure and improve animal welfare in practice.

Professors Tina Widowski and Cate Dewey look forward to hosting you in 2011 at the 5th International workshop on the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level (WAFL) that will be held at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The meeting promises to maintain the distinct focus on measuring welfare on farm and in groups of animals with a European emphasis blended with research results from around the world. Tina and Cate look forward to giving you a friendly Canadian welcome in a city of rivers and parks and on a campus that houses the Ontario Agricultural College and the Ontario Veterinary College.