24 pages, This research examines how sheep farmers and industry actors in the United Kingdom (UK) understand and conceptualize what animal welfare scientists term ‘positive animal welfare’. It explores their awareness of the concept, and how they interpret it using a qualitative approach. Participants were recruited using a snowballing, purposive sample approach, resulting in 25 sheep farmers and 11 industry actors (veterinarians, farming organizations, advisors, and supply chain) being interviewed. To collect data, a combined approach involving semi-structured interviews and a facilitated workshop were used between April 2021 and March 2022. Data were then thematically analyzed using a hybrid of inductive and deductive coding process. The findings suggested that the perceptions of farmers and industry actors in the study regarding positive welfare differ from contemporary academic discourses. Overall, around 7 of the farmers equated positive welfare with “positive stockmanship”, while six of them expressed “good animal welfare” definitions associated with the Five Freedoms. In contrast, most industry actors (6) expressed interpretations associated with high welfare standards (going above minimum recommended practices) and positive mental experiences (3). Emerging discourses revealed the link between self-identity, social identity and what positive welfare is, the importance of knowledge exchange, and the need for practical indicators through language rephrasing. There is a clear need to enhance and improve knowledge dissemination strategies, particularly in the UK, where much research is being conducted on positive animal welfare.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 181 Document Number: C36378
Notes:
Drovers CattleNetwork via online. 3 pages., Author comments about a CNN Eatocracy feature that included an observation that the 4-H organization serves to desensitize children to the suffering of animals.
International: Oxford University Press, Oxford, England.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D01515
Notes:
Pages 93-107 in Cass R. Sunstein and Martha C. Nussbaum (eds.), Animal rights: current debates and new directions. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. 338 pages.
19 pages, via online journal, Dairy farms pose many hazards to farmers and their employees, including the risk of injury caused by handling animals. On many farms, there is a lack of consistent information and training related to farm safety topics, including stockmanship, or safe animal handling. The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore effective communication strategies that support the application of stockmanship practices and more broadly support health and safety measures and the adoption of new behaviors by farmers and their employees. Research was conducted in three stages via in-depth farm tours and in-person interviews, a qualitative survey, and follow-up phone interviews with dairy farmers. Findings identified four values and moral norms important to dairy farmers and four barriers to implementation of farm safety practices. The research also revealed publications and in-person meetings as key channels of communication and on-farm consultants as important influencers. From the research findings, three major recommendations emerged. These include using a train the trainer educational model, engaging with professionals and encouraging farmer-to-farmer communication, and leveraging digital resources.
Peterson, Jane W. (author) and Scharpe, Jennifer (author)
Format:
Abstract
Publication Date:
2009-08-05
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C29322
Notes:
Posted at http://www.aejmc.org, Paper presented at the 2009 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication convention, Boston, Massachusetts, August 5-8, 2009.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 138 Document Number: D05748
Notes:
Drovers CattleNetwork, Lenexa, Kansas. 4 pages., Interview with Nathan Runkle, Mercy for Animals, about livestock abuses reported recently by the organization, based on undercover investigations.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D06952
Notes:
Pages 151-183 in Eugene C. Hargrove (ed.), The animal rights/environmental ethics debate: the environmental perspective. State University of New York Press, Albany. 273 pages.
Wolfson, David J. (author) and Sullivan, Mariann (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
2004
Published:
International: Oxford University Press, Oxford, England
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D01516
Notes:
Pages 205-233 in Cass R. Sunstein and Martha C. Nussbaum (eds.), Animal rights: current debates and new directions. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. 338 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C29036
Notes:
Posted at http://institution.gallup.com, Via "Create a Trend" option, Questions 25c (2008 survey) and Question 37c (2003 survey), Gallup Poll Social Series: Values and Beliefs. 2 pages., Compares responses from national surveys among U. S. adults during 2003 and 2008.
Discourse about industrial animal agriculture contributing to global climate change. Examines how interest groups have responded to the release of "Livestock's Long Shadow," a 2006 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C36816
Notes:
Agricultural Publishers Association Records, Series No. 8/3/80, Box 10, Special Bulletin No. 17. 2 pages., Cites a bulletin by the National Better Business Bureau, Inc. Includes samples of objectionable claims in advertising food and drug preparations for animals.
Analyzes images of animals over a 30-year period, with emphasis on relations between humans and animals in terms of protection of humans against animals (e.g., diseases), animals against humans and their relative impact on environment.
Petto, Andrew J. (author) and Russell, Karla D. (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
1999
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D06958
Notes:
pages 167-185 in Francine L. Dolins (ed.), Attitudes to animals: views in animal welfare. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 262 pages., Framework for "humane education" regarding use of animals in learning (e.g., biology).
5 pages., Online via UI Catalog. September-October issue., Authors described types of legal disputes in the equine industry, addressed why and when to use mediation, and offered suggestions on mediation methods.
16 pages., Animals, Justice and the Law Part 2., Author offered information and perspectives about development of "Ag-Gag" laws in some states involving the reporting of production and slaughter practices in the meat industry, their effect on society, and limitations of self-regulation.
The demographics of incoming university animal science majors have shifted from students with a farm background to urban students with no history of direct livestock contact. Research completed before the Internet was a central source of information indicated that incoming urban students tend to express no opinion or a neutral opinion regarding livestock agriculture issues. Due to the changing background of incoming students enrolled in introductory university-level animal science classes, we sought to determine 1) if livestock background (self-identified as raised in a farm or urban setting), sex, or animal science career interest influenced the opinions of incoming students regarding critical issues involving livestock farming practices and 2) if 15 wk of introductory animal science instruction changed student opinions. A total of 224 students were given 2 identical anonymous surveys (start and end of 15 wk) with 5 demographic questions and 9 animal issue statements. For each statement, students marked their opinion by placing a vertical line on a continuous 130 mm horizontal line, where a vertical line placed at 0 mm = strongly agree and 130 mm = strongly disagree. Data were analyzed by ANOVA to determine any significant effects of instruction, background, sex, and future career preference on survey responses. Before instruction, urban students were less agreeable than farm students that animal farming was moral and humane and that farmers are concerned about animal welfare and livestock are of value to society (P ≤ 0.05). Urban students were more likely than farm students to purchase organic foods or food based on environmental/welfare standards (P ≤ 0.05). Introductory animal science instruction resulted in students becoming more agreeable that animal farming was humane, farmers are concerned about animal welfare, and animal agriculture is a value to society (P ≤ 0.05). Postinstruction, students were more likely to buy food products based on price (P ≤ 0.05). Males found farm practices more humane than females (P ≤ 0.05), but sex differences were not evident for other questions. Future professional career plans did not affect student opinions. Data showed that incoming urban students tend to be more neutral with regards to animal farming issues, and introductory animal science instruction fosters a more agreeable attitude towards animal farming practices, especially in students with urban backgrounds.
12 pages, via Online Journal, Climate change compels us to rethink the ethics of our dietary choices and has become an interesting issue for ethicists concerned about diets, including animal ethicists. The defenders of veganism have found that climate change provides a new reason to support their cause because many animal-based foods have high greenhouse gas emissions. The new style of argumentation, the ‘climatic argument(s) for veganism’, may benefit animals by persuading even those who are not concerned about animals themselves but worry about climate change. The arguments about the high emissions of animal-based food, and a resulting moral obligation to abstain from eating such products, are an addition to the prior forms of argument for principled veganism grounded on the moral standing of, and concern for, nonhuman animals. In this paper, we examine whether the climatic argument for veganism is convincing. We propose a formulation for the amended version of the argument and discuss its implications and differences compared to the moral obligations of principled veganism. We also reflect upon the implications of our findings on agricultural and food ethics more generally.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 145 Document Number: D11559
Notes:
1 page., Online via AgriMarketing Weekly., New graduate-level course at Kansas State University will offer a new online course, Sales and Marketing in Animal Health Industry (AGEC 735)
Mitloehner, Frank (author / University of California-Davis)
Format:
Commentary
Publication Date:
2016-04
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 114 Document Number: D11025
Notes:
Via online., "A white paper, defining the role animal agriculture and other sectors of societ play in their respective contribution of greenhouse gasses, as the societal concerns grow to seek a sustainable global future." ... "Now is the time to end the rhetoric and separate facts from fiction around the numerous sectors that contribute emissions and to identify solutions for the global food supply that allow us to reduce our impact on the planet and its resources."
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D06955
Notes:
Pages 12-25 in Francine L. Dolins (ed.), Attitudes to animals: views in animal welfare. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 262 pages., "Totem" from Ojibwa language - ototeman - meaning "he is my relative."
Tongue in cheek, the author explores the idea that those who promote consumption of farm products need to use mascots. "We may neet to put a funny face on our productà"
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 144 Document Number: C22331
Notes:
Meatingplace.com 2 pages., An Internet device developed at the National University of Singapore connects users to a real chicken via a chicken-shaped doll, comp;uter sensors and a Webcam link.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 147 Document Number: C23428
Notes:
From Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. 8 pages., Results of the third comprehensive survey by Pew Initiative of U.S. consumer sentiment about the application of genetic engineering in agriculture.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 147 Document Number: C23359
Notes:
Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. 10 pages., Fourth annual survey of U.S. consumer attitudes about genetically modified food. Research by Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies.
