Farm Animal Welfare or The Construction Foremans Safety Handbook

Farm Animal Welfare: Social, Bioethical, and Research Issues

Author: Bernard E Rollin

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.

Randall S. Ott

This book addresses welfare issues surrounding the use of farm animals in the various animal industries, e.g., beef, swine, dairy, veal, and poultry. This book is an attempt to find the middle ground in the area of farm animal well-being. The author attempts, unsuccessfully, to reconcile the dichotomy of animal rights and animal welfare in part 1. However, he effectively builds a case that animal welfare-friendly agriculture is a viable area of research. In part 2, he articulates specific areas of concern and opportunities for the improvement of farm animal welfare. This book will be of value to producers, practitioners, and students. It brings to light many of the industry-associated welfare issues for the various farm animal species. The author has educated himself and taught about these issues. His insights are useful for those inside of the agricultural community as well as for those outside of it. His broad-based coverage across the various animal industries is commendable. Some of the references are anecdotal and based on personal exchanges. However, the author often uses these to enhance the reader's understanding of the various attitudes and reactions of people to the issues under discussion. The division of welfare, first by industry and then by issues, makes this book a quick and easy reference for the subject of farm animal welfare. This book provides an interesting and broadly based discussion of animal welfare problems in the beef, dairy, swine, veal, and poultry industries. More importantly, the opportunities for proactive improvement of farm animal welfare are repeatedly emphasized.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Randall S. Ott, DVM, MS (University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)
Description: This book addresses welfare issues surrounding the use of farm animals in the various animal industries, e.g., beef, swine, dairy, veal, and poultry.
Purpose: This book is an attempt to find the middle ground in the area of farm animal well-being. The author attempts, unsuccessfully, to reconcile the dichotomy of animal rights and animal welfare in part 1. However, he effectively builds a case that ^^animal welfare-friendly agriculture is a viable area of research. In part 2, he articulates specific areas of concern and opportunities for the improvement of farm animal welfare.
Audience: This book will be of value to producers, practitioners, and students. It brings to light many of the industry-associated welfare issues for the various farm animal species. The author has educated himself and taught about these issues. His insights are useful for those inside of the agricultural community as well as for those outside of it. His broad-based coverage across the various animal industries is commendable.
Features: Some of the references are anecdotal and based on personal exchanges. However, the author often uses these to enhance the reader's understanding of the various attitudes and reactions of people to the issues under discussion. The division of welfare, first by industry and then by issues, makes this book a quick and easy reference for the subject of farm animal welfare.
Assessment: This book provides an interesting and broadly based discussion of animal welfare problems in the beef, dairy, swine, veal, and poultry industries. More importantly, the opportunities for proactive improvement of farm animal welfare are repeatedly emphasized.

Rating

3 Stars from Doody

Table of Contents:

	Preface	viii
	Acknowledgments	xi
Part 1	The Social and Bioethical Background	1
1.	The New Social Ethic for Animals	3
	Personal Ethics and Social Ethics	3
	Traditional Social Ethics and the Treatment of Animals	4
	The Inadequacy of the Traditional Ethic	8
	The Rise of the New Ethic	12
	The Nature of the Emerging Ethic: Beyond Cruelty	15
	Evidence for the Presence of the New Ethic	19
	The Relevance of the New Social Ethic to Agriculture	23
2.	Welfare Research and Scientific Ideology	27
	Scientific and Producer Attitudes toward Animal Welfare	27
	Can Animal Suffering Be Assessed Scientifically?	40
	What Sorts of Research Should Be Undertaken?	43
	How, Morally, Ought Welfare Research Be Conducted?	45
	Animal Welfare and Genetic Engineering	48
Part 2	Research Issues in Farm Animal Welfare	51
3.	The Beef Industry	55
	Welfare Issues in Ranching	56
	Branding	58
	Castration	60
	Dehorning	64
	Cancer Eye	65
	Cattle Handling	66
	Transportation	67
	Downer Cattle	69
	Slaughter	69
	Gomer Bulls	71
	Feedlot Problems	71
4.	The Swine Industry	73
	Swine Behavior	74
	Confinement of Sows	75
	Modification of Existing Systems	78
	Development of New Systems	80
	Looking at Traditional Systems	90
	Farrowing Crates	91
	Other Sow Welfare Problems	93
	Piglet Welfare	94
	Grower-Finishers	96
	Handling and Transport	97
	Other Issues	98
5.	The Dairy Industry	99
	Ethograms for Cattle	100
	Calf Welfare	101
	Welfare Issues of Cows	103
	Future Technology	107
6.	The Veal Industry	109
	Welfare Problems in Current Systems	111
	Research Issues	114
7.	The Poultry Industry	117
	Welfare Issues in Battery-Cage Egg Production	118
	Improving Hen Welfare	126
	Changing the Animal	126
	Cage Modification	127
	Alternative Systems	128
	Problems in Broiler Welfare	133
	Handling, Transportation, and Slaughter of Poultry	134
8.	Reflections	137
	Notes	143
	Index	155

Book review: The Last True Story Ill Ever Tell or In Our Defense

The Construction Foreman's Safety Handbook

Author: George Kennedy

Construction Foreman's Safety Handbook is a invaluable reference source for individuals who want to ensure job site safety, OSHA compliance, promote lower operational costs, greater productivity, and improved employee moral.