AGRICULTURAL

ANIMAL WELFARE

Agriculture
Animal Agriculture

Does Agriculture improve the welfare

of animals…?
 …or cause unnecessary suffering?

This is not a question asked by many people

of the world

“A chicken in every pot, every Sunday!”

 General Concerns
(all species)
1. Decreasing Genetic Variability

Over 95% of Dairy cows in the U.S. are Holsteins, yet

there are hundreds of breeds representing a broader
range of genetics
19 breeds just on BRITISH watch list
(Rare Breeds Survival Trust)
Scottish Highland Cattle
145 British
breeds of sheep
(22 on Watch list)

Rambouillet
Predominant
In U.S.
 Muscovy Duck

Lack of genetic diversity occurs in many

species, including chickens, ducks, cattle, and
sheep (and is potentially dangerous - recall
Irish potato famine).
 General Concerns
(all species)
1. Decreasing Genetic Variability
2. Selection for Single Trait
Selection pressure is often specific to one trait
which can create problems in other areas.
~ Selection for lean pigs with low fat
content led to pigs with nervous
and high strung temperaments.

~ Chickens with extra large breasts

grew so fast they developed
arthritis and deformed legs.

Grandin & Johnson 2005

Also, breeds are not always suited for their
environment: Hereford cattle in hot, humid
south, for example.
 General Concerns
(all Ag species)
1. Decreasing Genetic Variability
2. Selection for Single Traits
3. Dystocia
Parturition problems can be the cause of severe
suffering in individual animals
 Causes of Dystocia

~ Selection for large offspring in meat breeds

~ Stress

~ Age (less a problem on large operations)

 General Concerns
(all Ag species)
1. Decreasing Genetic Variability
2. Selection for Single Traits
3. Dystocia
4. Transport
 General Concerns
1. Decreasing Genetic Variability
2. Selection for Single Traits
3. Practices,
4. Transport-vehicle, distance, time,
feed, water, loading, season, species
5. Pre-handling and Slaughter
Humane Slaughter Act (USDA enforced)
Meat Institute’s Good Mgt. Practices
for Animal Handling & Stunning
 Sheep/goat
• Most “natural” life, though protected from
disease & predation (to an extent)
• Most on pasture whole life, some lambs go to
“finishing pens” for last month
 Sheep/goat Welfare Concerns
• Predation
• Dystocia
• Stress/pain of vaccinating, tagging,
docking & castration
 Sheep/goat Welfare Concerns
• Predation
• Dystocia
• Stress/ pain of vaccinating,
tagging, docking & castration
• Shearing?
• Transport and slaughter
 Beef Cattle Welfare Concerns
• Castration
• Transport & Slaughter
• Time in feed lot: odor, access to shade, food
& additives
 Dairy Cattle Welfare Concerns

Dystocia
Mastitis
Housing
Veal calves (culled males)
Female calves taken away
Tail Docking
Transport/slaughter when culled
 Poultry Welfare: Egg producers
• Male chicks
• Battery Cages
– Cost of building vs. labor ($$$ in US)
Poultry Welfare: Broilers/ fryers
23 million/year
• Aggression/ debeaking
• “Free range”
• Selection for rapid growth - Satiety Center
 Consumer Choice Criteria
1. Cost
2. Taste (fatter is better)
3. Convenience
4. Nutrition/ “wholesomeness”

Not ethics/ welfare…