Faces of Agriculture

Animal welfare expert Dr. Stanley Curtis of the University of Illinois
offers his insight in this exclusive series:
Is a new social contract in order?
Consumer provider social contract needs updating
Welfare requires transparency, accountability, responsibility

Experts issue united position on animal welfare
Leading animal welfare experts – Drs. Stanley Curtis, Temple Grandin and John McGlone – have not always been in agreement on matters related to the welfare of farm animals but given the current debate surrounding several critical welfare issues, they have come together to offer a mutual position that they believe is in the best interest of production animals. Their position is counter to that of some activist groups that say they are looking out for the animals yet have not fully explored the science behind their agendas. Specific topics addressed by the scientists are the use of sow gestation stalls and controlled atmosphere stunning/killing of poultry. Click here to view their position statement.

Dr. Stanley Curtis, animal scientist, University of Illinois
Video - Sow housing
Video - Animal handling

Arizona Proposition 204 commentary by Trent Loos
Audio

Prop 204: Preying on Arizona Post-election commentary by Trent Loos
Audio

Sow housing figures showing gestation and farrowing uses

Dr. Janice Siegford, Cerfified associate applied animal behaviorist and assistant professor, Michigan State University
Video Audio

Marie Wheatley, president, American Humane Association, Free Farmed Program
Video Audio

Scott Schneider, Nature Link Farms, a cage-free producer in southern Wisconsin
Video Audio

Jeffery Armstrong, dean of the College of Agriculture, Michigan State University
Video Audio

Trent Loos Talks with Philip Clemens of Hatfield Quality Meats
Audio



	Animal Welfare Consumers today are increasingly questioning the quality and care taken in the production of meat, milk and eggs. Some of that concern stems from the fact that companion animals are increasingly being viewed by society as family members. While many recognize and accept that there is a difference between animals used as companions and animals used for nourishment, farmers and ranchers agree that animals raised for whatever purpose should be humanely cared for. Stalls can be in a sow's best interest - video Activists: How influencial are they - (audio version) / (print article) Are free range hens happier? Maybe not! Free-range hens experience stress Study finds poultry production to be environmently friendly Our story / full 96-page report Are humans and animals equal? Trent Loos comments. Click here to listen. Expensive campaign brewing in California Questions raised about validity of HSUS video Initiatives are 'battle for the country' It's about the cycle of life - commentary Decisions being made by those not knowing agriculture? - audio commentary USDA's Dr. Richard Raymond talks about the beef recall - audio Recall not really about food safety Slaughter inspection 101 Hallmark case more than he said, she said - commentary Animal welfare expert Dr. Stanley Curtis of the University of Illinois offers his insight in this exclusive series: Is a new social contract in order? Consumer provider social contract needs updating Welfare requires transparency, accountability, responsibility Experts issue united position on animal welfare Leading animal welfare experts – Drs. Stanley Curtis, Temple Grandin and John McGlone – have not always been in agreement on matters related to the welfare of farm animals but given the current debate surrounding several critical welfare issues, they have come together to offer a mutual position that they believe is in the best interest of production animals. Their position is counter to that of some activist groups that say they are looking out for the animals yet have not fully explored the science behind their agendas. Specific topics addressed by the scientists are the use of sow gestation stalls and controlled atmosphere stunning/killing of poultry. Click here to view their position statement. Want to know more? Hear input from scientific experts, industry and others: What is known about sow housing and handling and are some of the movements underway to change industry practices in the best interest of the animals? The Science Dr. Stanley Curtis, animal scientist, University of Illinois Video - Sow housing Video - Animal handling Dr. Janice Siegford, Certified associate applied animal behaviorist and assistant professor, Michigan State University Video Audio Arizona Proposition 204 commentary by Trent Loos Audio Prop 204: Preying on Arizona Post-election commentary by Trent Loos Audio Sow housing figures showing gestation and farrowing uses What is the role of animal welfare standards and certification programs? The Science Dr. Janice Siegford, Cerfified associate applied animal behaviorist and assistant professor, Michigan State University Video Audio Industry's View Marie Wheatley, president, American Humane Association, Free Farmed Program Video Audio Scott Schneider, Nature Link Farms, a cage-free producer in southern Wisconsin Video Audio Jeffery Armstrong, dean of the College of Agriculture, Michigan State University Video Audio Gene Gregory, president, United Egg Producers Video Trent Loos Talks with Philip Clemens of Hatfield Quality Meats Audio Why is there a disconnect between today's consumers and animal agriculture on the acceptable role of animals in food production? The Science Dr. Wes Jamison, animal welfare specialist, University of Florida Video Audio Dr. Stanley Curtis, animal scientist, University of Illinois Video Trent Loos talks with Dr. Stanley Curtis, animal scientist at the University of Illinois Audio Trent Loos Talks with Dr. Beth Walker, professor at Missouri State University Audio Are profits taking precedent over animal welfare in animal production? Don Bell, poultry scientist, University of California Video Is it possible to breed kinder, gentler animals? Dr. William Muir, professor of genetics, Purdue University Video More Information *More articles from Feedstuffs* editors on animal welfare** HSUS agenda: A threat to animal agriculture (commentary) The recent controversy surrounding the performance of singer Carrie Underwood at the FFA convention in Indianapolis has called agriculture's attention to the anti-animal agriculture agenda of the Humane Society of the United States. Philip Lobo of the Animal Agriculture Alliance explains in this commentary. Anti-animal agriculture depiction is accurate (commentary) Council for Agricultural Science and Technology publications available by searching publication title: CAST Publication: The Well-Being of Agricultural Animals CAST Publication: Agricultural Ethics American Humane Association Free Farmed Program: www.americanhumane.org/freefarmed See Caged Egg Production