Animal Welfare in Animal Agriculture Husbandry, Stewardship, and Sustainability in Animal Production

About this book

What constitutes animal welfare? With animals being used for companionship, service, research, food, fiber, and by-products, animal welfare is a topic of great interest and importance to society. As the world's population continues to increase, a major challenge for society is the maintenance of a strong and viable food system, which is linked to the well-being and comfort of food animals. "Animal Welfare in Animal Agriculture: Husbandry, Stewardship, and Sustainability in Animal Production" explores the pressing issue of farm animal welfare in animal production systems in the United States and globally.

A framework for open discussion on animal welfare, this multidisciplinary book brings together the perspectives of 40 highly qualified and recognized experts in their respective fields. Fourteen chapters address a range of topics that includes ethics, sociology, food safety, ecology, feed resources, biotechnology, government regulations, and sustainability, as well as animal comfort, health, and contributions to society. The book also offers a historical perspective on the growth of animal agriculture from family farms to industrial animal agriculture-and the impact this has had on society. Illustrating the diversity of viewpoints, the concept of animal welfare is defined from the perspectives of an ethicist and philosopher, a research scientist, a veterinarian, an industrialist, and an activist, as well as from the perspective of sustainability and product quality.

Written primarily for students, but also highly relevant for professionals in varying fields of academia and industry, this timely book reveals important insights into animal welfare and animal agriculture. Unique in its depth, breadth, and balance, it underscores the need for dialogue on wide-ranging and often contentious issues related to animal production systems.

Contents

ROLES OF ANIMALS IN SOCIETY
- Perspectives on Emergence of Contemporary Animal Agriculture in the Mid-Twentieth Century: The Decline of Husbandry and the Rise of the Industrial Model
- Contributions of Farm and Laboratory Animals to Society
- Contributions of Animals in Human Service

TREATMENT OF ANIMALS AND SOCIETAL CONCERNS
- The Opinions and Recommendations of One Particular Study Group: The Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production
- Defining Agricultural Animal Welfare: Varying Viewpoints and Approaches
- Contemporary Animal Agriculture: Rural Community Concerns in the United States
- Implementing Effective Practices and Programs to Assess Animal Welfare
- Animal Welfare: Synthesizing Contemporary Animal Agriculture/Engineering and Animal Comfort and Social Responsibility

SUSTAINABLE PLANT AND ANIMAL AGRICULTURE FOR ANIMAL WELFARE
- Symbiosis of Plants, Animals, and Microbes
- Food Safety Issues in Animal Source Foods Related to Animal Health and Welfare
- Animal Welfare in the Context of Ecological Sustainability
- Competition between Animals and Humans for Cultivated Crops: Livestock Production and Our Food Supply
- Crop Residues and Other Feed Resources: Inedible for Humans but Valuable for Animals
- Welfare, Health, and Biological Efficiency of Animals through Genetics and Biotechnology

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Biography

Wilson G. Pond, PhD, is a visiting professor at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA, and a Fellow of the American Society of Animal Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Society of Nutritional Science.

Fuller W. Bazer, PhD, is Regents Fellow, Distinguished Professor, and O.D. Butler Chair in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University, College Station, USA, and WCU Professor in Biomodulation in the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology at Seoul National University, Republic of Korea.

Bernard E. Rollin, PhD, is University Distinguished Professor, Professor of Philosophy, Professor of Animal Science, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, and University Bioethicist at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.