Author
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Morrow, Julie |
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Submitted to: Professional Animal Scientist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/1998 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: The issue of animal well-being is one that is important to most Americans. Animal well-being, an animal's state as it attempts to cope with it's environment, is certainly an issue when addressing how we raise livestock, and how we house and transport our production animals. One of the most important points in addressing sustainable agriculture resides in meeting consumer demands. Societal issues will influence how animal production occurs, whether through supply side economics or legislation. It is therefore very important that scientists identify objective measures of animal well-being, and that the information is transmitted to the end user, the producer, so that improvements in production practices can be made. Transmission of animal welfare science in the form of review articles such as this one must also be used to educate consumers about the production of animals for food. Technical Abstract: The outcome from any animal production unit should have the following goals: 1) a system of raising farm animals that enhances well-being, 2) a safe, pleasant environment for farm workers, 3) ecologically sound, and 4) produce a safe food product that consumers can afford. Animal well-being, an animal's state as it attempts to cope with it's environment (Broom, 1991), is certainly an issue when addressing how we raise livestock, and how we house and transport our production animals. One of the most important points in addressing sustainable agriculture resides in meeting consumer demands. Societal issues will influence how animal production occurs, whether through supply side econimics or legislation. It is therefore very important that scientists identify objective measures of animal well-being, and that the information is transmitted to the end user, the producer, so that improvements in production practices can be made. Transmission of animal welfare science must also be used to educate consumers about the production of animals for food. |
