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.

About the Author

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.

Reviews

"This text provides the reader with multiple views on animal welfare and proves to be a fascinating read. There are a variety of viewpoints included in the text and thus avoids the pitfall of providing only one or two opinions on, what has proved to be, a controversial subject. ...While it should be considered required reading for students in the agricultural field, it will also prove to be thought-provoking to anyone interested in the subject of animal welfare and its impact on society."
-Brandy Tabor, CVT, VTS (ECC), The VIN Book Reviews, VSPN.org, January 2013

"Implementation of welfare in practice has become an interdisciplinary challenge where animal scientists, system designers, ecologists, and economists must join forces.... This multidisciplinary approach should also have a place in our teaching of undergraduate and graduate courses at universities and in training of students at other schools."
-Bas Kemp, PhD, and Martin Verstegen, PhD, Department of Animal Science, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Book Information
ISBN 9781439848425
Author Wilson G. Pond
Format Hardback
Page Count 334
Imprint CRC Press Inc
Publisher Taylor & Francis Inc
Weight(grams) 748g