Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
fleas, and ticks, the dogs' living areas are kept clean, and they
are given medication to ward off parasites. Likewise, most
hogs and chickens are now raised indoors, not only to keep
them at a comfortable temperature and protect them from
predators, but to reduce disease. Cows are regularly given
medicine that wards off flies, fleas, lice, and ticks, and bedding
for dairy cows and chickens are routinely cleaned.
If you have not spent much time on a farm, throw away
every notion you have about it being old-fashioned. The mod-
ern farm is a highly specialized, technical, and scientific busi-
ness. Some cows today even have stomach capsules that record
the animals' temperature, alerting the farmer if it is running a
fever. On her smartphone the farmer can install the Thermal
Aid app, which collects a variety of weather data and alerts
the farmer when heat stress in cattle is likely. Because ani-
mals generally perform well when their biological needs are
met, the livestock industry has become expert at meeting the
function-based needs of the animal.
Yet meeting the function-based needs of the animal is not
sufficient for everyone. Most dog owners subscribe to the
feeling-based school of animal welfare. They will swear they
can tell if their dog is sad or scared, which makes the owner
respond with love and comfort. Though she might not feel like
it at the time, an owner may take her best friend for a walk
if the dog whines at the front door, or stop to play if the dog
seems bored.
One might be tempted to say that the livestock industry
manages too many animals to account for their feelings,
and that feelings cannot be scientifically measured, anyway.
While it is true that farmers cannot get to know every pig
and cow, they do care about animal feelings, and scientific
tools for indirectly measuring how animals perceive their
environment do exist. For example, mental states of stress
in animals are correlated with elevated levels of certain hor-
mones. A  stressed sheep, for instance, will display higher
cortisol concentrations when it is separated from the flock.
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