Farm Animal Welfare: Social, Bioethical, and Research Issues

Concern for animal welfare is emerging as a major component of Western social ethics. The central issue is the use of animals in research and in food production. Laws reflecting the new ethic have been passed worldwide. Rollin urges animal producers and agricultural scientists in the USA to address animal welfare problems now, before federal legislation forces the issue. This book examines the origin and nature of the new social ethics for animals as a mainstream social phenomenon. In lay language and lively engaging prose, Rollin explains how changes in the nature of animal use in the 20th century have led to the need for an ethic that goes well beyond traditional social-ethical concerns about kindness and cruelty to animals. The specific welfare issues of close confinement, pain control and animal welfare that arise in various animal production industries are discussed in turn. Rollin identifies research problems in the beef cattle, swine, dairy cattle, veal calves, and poultry livestock industries. This book provides an excellent introduction to the philosophical, ethical, social and scientific dimensions of agriculture animal welfare.