Farm Animal Welfare: Social, Bioethical, and Research Issues

Animals born with bones and muscles are meant to move. In modern systems of intensive agriculture, however, many animals -- notably, swine, veal calves, and poultry -- are rigorously confined. In this book Professor Bernard E. Rollin describes problems of animal welfare in today's agriculture, discusses the research that exists for improving these systems, and proposes topics for further study.

Rollin urges animal producers and agricultural scientists to begin now to address welfare problems. He cites the biomedical research community, which ignored issues of pain control and animal welfare until public concern led to federal legislation. Promising work has already been done in Europe, where the public has demanded that livestock not suffer. A new social ethic in the United States calls for humane agricultural systems that meet the needs and natures of the animals we use. Striking a balanced and rational approach, Rollin's thoughtful text is valuable reading for animal producers, agricultural scientists, veterinarians, animal advocates, and the general public.