Animal, Plant &
Soil Science
Lesson C1-3
Animal Welfare Issues
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Objectives
1. Analyze the ethics involved in animal
production.
2. Compare and contrast animal rights and
animal welfare.
3. Investigate legislation regarding animal
welfare.
4. Examine the potential issues involved with
developing and using genetically engineered
animals.
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Terms






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animal rights
animal welfare
Animal Welfare Act
biotechnology
cloning
ethics
genetic engineering
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Ethics and Animal
Production

Ethics are the moral issues that must be
examined to determine right from wrong when
dealing with human character and conduct.
 Providing
the proper care for animals
 Using
appropriate values in relating to other
animal owners
 Animals
in lab research, production, showing,
recreation, etc.
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Ethics and Animal
Production

The main ethical question that arises is
whether we should raise animals for the
purpose of killing and eating them.
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Ethics and Animal
Production

Humans have long used animals for their meat
and hides.

The argument centers around why we need
to eat the animals.

The decision is up to each consumer to decide
for him or herself.
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Ethics and Animal
Production

Most people do agree that animals should be
raised free from pain and suffering.

What is needed to raise an animal in the most
comfortable manner possible?
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Ethics and Animal
Production

In advanced countries like the US, questions
are raised about specific animal-raising
techniques:


Dehorning, castration without numbing medication
Another concern is the movement to “factory
farms,” where intensive animal production is
practiced in controlled environments.
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Ethics and Animal
Production

Many conventional practices that were once
used for animal production are not
economically feasible.

Facilities needs to be profitable.

Importance of production advancements
(use of controlled environments)

The cost of raising animals decreases as
production efficiency increases.
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Major Ethical Issues

Some major ethical issues involve:

Use of confinement or controlled environments

Small living areas for animals

Harvest of animals in view of other animals

Handling methods used with animals

Selection of animals for rapid growth (medical issues)

Turkeys created by natural selection that cannot
reproduce naturally (large breast muscles)
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Animal Rights/Animal Welfare

Animal rights are the rights of animals to life
and liberty—the same rights that humans have.

Animal welfare is the act of providing animals
with surroundings that meet their needs while
under human control.
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Animal Rights/Animal Welfare

If one believes in animal rights, the harvest of
livestock is viewed as murder. Groups such as:
 People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
 Farm Animal Reform Movement (FARM)

If one believes in animal welfare, the harvest of
livestock should be done in a humane manner.
 The
Animal Industry Foundation (AIF)
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Animal Rights/Animal Welfare

Most animal producers are concerned with
animal welfare.
 Raising
animals improperly = sick animals (death)
 Reduction
 Groups
in profits
that educate good practices:

Cattlemen's Association

Pork Producer Groups
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Animal Rights/Animal Welfare

United Kingdom Farm Animal Welfare Council
serves as an advisory council on many
government and legislative animal welfare
issues.
 Freedom
from the following stresses is the focus
of discussions:
Thirst, hunger, malnutrition
 Discomfort, pain, injury
 Disease
 Mental suffering

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Legal Regulations and
Animal Welfare

The Animal Welfare Act was passed in 1966
(by the Federal government) to regulate the
treatment of animals in research, exhibition,
transport, and commerce and their treatment
by dealers.
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Legal Regulations and
Animal Welfare

Health Research Extension Act was passed in
1985.
 Focuses
on the proper care of animals to be used
in biomedical and behavioral research.
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Legal Regulations and
Animal Welfare

State laws are more specific than federal
regulations.
 Florida
citizens voted to pass a constitutional
amendment to halt the confinement of pregnant
pigs. (2002)
 In
Arizona and many other states, cockfighting is
a felony.
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Legal Regulations and
Animal Welfare

The federal government has organized several
offices to oversee animal welfare issues and
regulations and provide guidance.
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Legal Regulations and
Animal Welfare

Animal Welfare Act is the responsibility of the
Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS)
of the USDA.
 Determines
standards of humane care and
treatment of animals
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Legal Regulations and
Animal Welfare

The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
interprets the Public Health Service Policy on
Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
and provides guidance.
 Ensures
the humane care and use of animals
in research, testing, and training.
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Legal Regulations and
Animal Welfare

The Economic Research Service (ERS),
another division of the USDA, tracks animal
health and welfare issues as they relate to food
and safety and to the production/availability of
animals for processing.
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Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology

Biotechnology is the application of biology to
technology.
 Uses
living cells and components to research
advances in technology.
 Research conducted is used to benefit both
animals and humans.
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Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology

Biotechnology example in animal production:
 The
development and use of bovine somatotropin
(BST) in dairy cattle.
 This
natural protein produced in the pituitary
gland of cattle promotes growth.
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Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology


Genetic engineering is the movement of
genes from one cell to another. Benefits:
 Improvement
of feeds
 Improvement
of breeds
Manipulation of genetics has brought about
cloning of animals.
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Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology

Cloning is creating exact duplicates of living
organisms.
 Modification
of animals has caused great
controversy on moral and spiritual grounds.
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Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology

Many risks are involved in genetically
engineering animals. They include:
 Loss
of genetic diversity could arise.
 Harmful
consequences not detected right away.
 Economic
 Animals
effects could disturb the economy.
could carry pathogens and infect humans
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Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology

Many precautions are being taken to regulate
genetic engineering.
 Weighing
advantages and disadvantages is
difficult because this procedure has not been
around for very long.
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Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology

Future advances will continue in biotechnology
that will cause even more debates.
 The
identification of the genome of a domestic
animal may be possible.
 Animal
productivity increases /cost of animal
production decreases
Improved growth rates
 Changes in the fat-to-lean ratio
 More milk production

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Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology

Future advances and debates (cont’d).
 Disease-resistant
animals may be developed.
 Parasites
may be controlled by genetic
interference with animal immune systems.
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Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology

Future advances and debates (cont’d).
 Markets
may expand both domestically and
internationally (genetically engineered products)
 Sexing
and sorting live fertile sperm could allow
producers to decide whether animal offspring will
be male or female.
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0
Review

What is the main ethical question that arises in
ethics and animal production?

What is the difference between animal welfare
and animal rights? Which group does PETA fall
under?

What organization serves as an advisory council
on many government and legislative animal
welfare issues?

What are two benefits of genetic engineering?
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