Key ethical issues in livestock farming

Publication date: 12/06/2023
Extent: 26 pages

Contributions by: Natalie Thomas, University of Guelph, Canada; and Adam B. D. Langridge, Nipissing University, Canada

Chapter synopsis:

This chapter assumed the practical application of animal ethics in agriculture as necessary for animal ethics and for those who work with animals in agriculture. It is intended to provide an overview of the main areas of ethical concern stemming from the use of animals as livestock. The first section provides an overview of the main positions in theoretical animal ethics, then moves to frame a discussion of the continuum of positions on the moral acceptability of the use of non-human animals for human ends. The second section outlines ethical issues arising from the use of animals in agriculture, organized into three groups: issues directly related to non-human animals, issues related to humans and society, and issues related to the natural environment. The chapter is not intended to provide exhaustive accounts of the ethics of animal agriculture, but rough sketches of the issues future work in the field will need to address.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2023.0125.11