BY RICHARD BARCZEWSKI
University of Delaware
NEWARK, Del. - One way to
get any self respecting livestock
producer’s dander up is to mention
animal rights or animal welfare.
The main reason for this is that
these terms recall incidents of
vandalism, irrational and very
vocal individuals with off-the-wall
ideas toward animal rearing.
First of all, animal rights and
animal welfare have two very
different meanings. Animal
welfare refers to animal well
being. All livestock producers sure
better consider themselves animal
welfarists if they’re concerned
about the health and well-being of
their livestock. For swine to be
productive, their health,
nutritional and other needs must
be met. Failure to do so is abusive
and inhumane.
I can honestly say that the vast
majority of producers are con
cerned and conscientious about
their livestock. However, as with
Animal Rights, Welfare Not The Same
anything, there are always a
couple of rotten apples in any
group.
We owe it to ourselves, our
profession and our livestock to use
the best husbandry practices we
can. Are we feeding balanced
rations? Do our ventilation
systems operate properly? Are our
animals kept at comfortable
temperatures and humidity?
These are the types of questions
we need to be asking ourselves on a
regular basis. Keeping our
livestock healthy and comfortable
is important for two reasons. First
and foremost, we have a moral
obligation to their well-being, since
the animals are completely in our
care, dependent on us for all of
their needs. Secondly, good
husbandry practices are a must
for a profitable operation.
Animal rrightists feel that
animals have rights. Most of these
people are opposed to the con
finement rearing of livestock.
Many are vegetarians, and some
are adamant that vegetarianism is
the way to go for everybody. Ob
viously, I don’t agree with this
train of thought. However, it’s
important for us to take a good
hard look at our operations.
Most confinement livestock
operations have been designed for
the ease and comfort of the
producer. Research is being done
to evaluate new ideas in facility
design, with the animal in mind.
Time will tell if these ideas can be
put to use.
By now, I’m sure that some of
you are wondering what I’m
getting at. Why is it so important to
think about the questions raised by
animal rights advocates?
It’s important because we in the
livestock industry must never
become so accustomed to our
facilities and management
practices that we refuse to look at
new and innovative ideas. We can’t
afford to become stagnant
especially when vocal groups are
attacking our system.
Lancaster Farming Saturday, November 15,1986-D9
Laws have been passed in
Europe and Great Britain per
taining to animal-rearing prac
tices. It’s only a matter of time
before similar laws are in our
books, too, to protect livestock
from improper rearing techniques.
Instead of fighting these even
tual laws, let’s make sure that
adequate research is done to
evaluate the alternative systems
proposed for animal welfare.
Producer organizations like the
National Pork Producers Council
need to be involved in the wording
of any laws that mav surface, to
Upjohn Honors Employee
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Robert
A. Nash has received the W.E.
Upjohn Award from The Upjohn
Company for superior employee
service.
Nash, product manager, In
ternational Animal Health
Marketing, joined the company in
ensure their fairness to producers
and livestock alike.
Remember, any law that
prevents livestock abuse is in the
best interest of animal agriculture.
After all, .producers should care
more about their livestock than
anyone else does.
In view of declining red meat
consumption and increasing
concern from the non-farm sector
about animal care, let’s make a
concerted effort to improve
management and facilities for the
livestock we raise.
1965. He received a B.S. degree in
biology from Delaware Valley
College, Doylestown, Pa. that
same year. Originally from Media,
Pa., Nash and his wife, Charlene,
and three children, reside
Richland, Mich.
Nash played a vital role in the
establishment of procedures,
strategies and policies for
production and marketing of
Ag/Vet products during the
development of Upjohn In
ternational’s Ag/Vet Division. His
contributions have included
development and implementation
of the marketing plan for
Neomycin, and chairing the
project teams that produced
sterile mastitis products in the
United Kingdom and launched
cattle implants.”
S&JM
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