Animal welfare, a crucial component of modern production processes, forms the ethical, economic, and social foundation of sustainable livestock farming. This study provides a general assessment of developments in animal welfare legislation worldwide and in Turkey, animal welfare evaluation approaches, and selected literature. The Brambell Report, published in 1964, pioneered the scientific approach to animal welfare. Although legislation enacted worldwide and in Turkey since the 2000s has made welfare standards in animal husbandry a legal requirement, various challenges and limitations persist in the process of implementing these standards. To promote widespread adoption of animal welfare practices, it is deemed necessary to provide training programs, inspection mechanisms, infrastructure standards, and necessary support for animal welfare economics research that will increase the effectiveness of legislation through a holistic approach. Improving animal welfare can significantly contribute to economic sustainability in the agricultural sector and increased societal well-being in countries.