Ethics in animal breeding.
Abstract: Ethical breeding involves the use of healthy animals true to their species in behaviour and physical appearance, and when applicable, showing a sustainable performance. The concerns for the species/breed are essential parts of the breeding goals, including preservation of genetic resources within the species/breed, and the health and welfare of the individual animal. Ethical and welfare considerations were often not prioritized in developing new breeds of production or companion animals. As a result, animal breeding practices are increasingly becoming part of the debate on animal welfare. In companion animals, breeding for curiosity or "cuteness" may be a goal in itself, although dogs are also bred for utility. In production animals, breeding focus is on performance, i.e., quantitative entities and financial income, rather than physical appearance. For instance, dairy cows are bred to be larger and to have higher milk yields, sows and ewes to produce more offspring, and horses are designed for riding, racing, and companionship. Overbreeding in relation to current demand of horses, cats, and dogs raises welfare issues due to abandonment or killing of horses and millions of cats and dogs every year. There is variable regulation of health requirements for breeding animals in different countries of the world. In many countries, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of animal welfare issues such as negative effects of certain production traits in farm animals, leading to decreased demand for their meat at a time where increased food production is becoming crucial. Amidst these dilemmas are the veterinarians. This paper deals with issues connected to traditional breeding as well as some of the breeding technologies, and includes food safety, ethics, and animal welfare.
© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2018-11-27 PubMed ID: 30474325DOI: 10.1111/rda.13335Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research is a thorough examination of the ethical considerations in animal breeding, taking into account the need for preservation of genetic resources, the welfare of the individual animal, and the evolving public awareness on animal welfare issues. Various breeding practices, goals, and technologies are scrutinized for their implications on breed/species health, longevity, and welfare.
Understanding Ethical Breeding
- The paper discusses the importance of ethical breeding, which means using animals that are true to their species in behavior and physical appearance and exhibit sustainable performance.
- Considerations for species preservation and individual animal welfare are integral facets of breeding goals.
Addressing Breeding Goals and Practices
- Historically, ethical and welfare considerations weren’t always prioritized in developing new breeds. This has led to controversies in animal breeding practices.
- In the context of companion animals, there has been an increased tendency to breed for curiosity or ‘cuteness’, beyond traditional utility purposes.
- Production animals are primarily bred for performance and financial gain, leading to physical variations intended for production efficiency.
Highlighting Negatives of Overbreeding
- Overbreeding in response to current demand raises significant animal welfare concerns due to potential abandonment or euthanasia. This is particularly applicable to horses, cats, and dogs.
- Consumers in many countries are becoming more conscious of the negative effects of certain production traits, leading to decreased demand for meat from specific breeds.
- This growing public awareness exerts pressure on the animal breeding industry to improve animal welfare standards and practices.
Exploring the Role of Veterinarians and Regulations
- There is a varying degree of regulation regarding the health requirements for breeding animals across different countries.
- Veterinarians play a critical role amidst these dilemmas. They have a professional and ethical responsibility to ensure the health and welfare of animals involved in breeding processes.
Scrutinizing Breeding Technologies
- The paper also discusses several breeding technologies and their implications on food safety, ethics, and animal welfare.
- The use of such technologies needs to be assessed from an ethical standpoint, particularly considering potential issues of animal health, welfare, and wider environmental impact.
Cite This Article
APA
Farstad W.
(2018).
Ethics in animal breeding.
Reprod Domest Anim, 53 Suppl 3, 4-13.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13335 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Welfare / ethics
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic
- Breeding / legislation & jurisprudence
- Breeding / methods
- Ethics
- Female
- Fishes
- Food Safety
- Male
- Phenotype
Citations
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