Author
 |
Morrow, Julie |
|
Submitted to: Livestock Conservation Institute Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Farm animals are essential in the world food enterprise and global economy of today. The public supports the agricultural use of animals, and generally believes animals are treated humanely. However, many people also support governmental regulation of animal production as a safeguard. Scientific insight is needed to support the assessment of well-being. The ARS National Research Program 105, Animal Well-Being and Stress Control Systems, represents research on animal care and well-being, including measures of stress. Research units at five ARS locations are involved in this program. Research includes 1) responses of individual animals to the production environment; 2) stress: 3) social behavior and space requirements; 4) cognition; and 5) development of alternative production practices and systems. Within this program, scientific knowledge is used to quantify the responses of animals to various management practices. This provides a scientific database for designing production systems that ensur both animal well-being and production efficiency. When these scientific measures of animal well-being are reflected in the design of production environments, this provides the public with greater assurances related to animal well-being. The resulting information gained National Program 105 research will also enable producers to evaluate, verify, and improve animal management practices to enhance well-being, while maintaining a competitive and sustainable food animal industry. Technical Abstract: Farm animals are essential in the world food enterprise and global economy of today. The public supports the agricultural use of animals, and generally believes animals are treated humanely. However, many people also support governmental regulation of animal production as a safeguard. Scientific insight is needed to support the assessment of well-being. The ARS National Research Program 105, Animal Well-Being and Stress Control Systems, represents research on animal care and well-being, including measures of stress. Research units at five ARS locations are involved in this program. Research includes 1) responses of individual animals to the production environment; 2) stress: 3) social behavior and space requirements; 4) cognition; and 5) development of alternative production practices and systems. Within this program, scientific knowledge is used to quantify the responses of animals to various management practices. This provides a scientific database for designing production systems that ensur both animal well-being and production efficiency. When these scientific measures of animal well-being are reflected in the design of production environments, this provides the public with greater assurances related to animal well-being. The resulting information gained National Program 105 research will also enable producers to evaluate, verify, and improve animal management practices to enhance well-being, while maintaining a competitive and sustainable food animal industry. |
