Pain in Livestock
I have often been accused of saying that animals cannot feel pain. Animal welfare activists believe that many farmers think this is true and use it to justify harming animals. To be clear, I have never said that animals cannot feel pain, nor do I believe it. In fact, livestock raisers are the people that know best the signs that an animal is in distress and, contrary to popular belief, go to great lengths to avoid that. Not only do farmers not want to see their animals in pain, but chronic stress reduces productivity in livestock. |
Photo from www.farminguk.com
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As I mentioned in the article, Why Veganism is Not More Humane, discomfort that spans over a long period of time, which would occur if livestock raisers treated their animals the way vegan proponents insinuate, causes animals to lose weight (meat), jeopardizes their fertility, reduces the amount of milk or eggs they produce, and heightens their susceptibility to diseases.
Surprisingly, I had a lot of difficulty finding research discussing pain in animals. Most scholarly articles I found were addressing the ethics of animal testing, which is a completely different issue that I won’t get into now. But there weren’t any studies quantifying animal pain or examining how different species process discomfort.
Geni Wren, Communications Specialist for the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, wrote an article in Bovine Veterinarian that said the “assessment of individual animal behavioral changes in response to pain is very subjective and can be influenced by differences in individual perception and interpretation. Since cattle were the natural prey of several predators, it is their nature to disguise signs of pain as much as possible.”
Our inability to measure pain in other species objectively is the reason thatthere are no analgesic drugs formally approved by the FDA for the alleviation of pain in food animals, said Wren. However, vaccinations are considered, both by welfare researchers and livestock raisers, the best way to prevent and alleviate suffering in livestock species. A survey conducted in the UK found that 83% of farmers administered medications for the sole reason of animal welfare.
Surprisingly, I had a lot of difficulty finding research discussing pain in animals. Most scholarly articles I found were addressing the ethics of animal testing, which is a completely different issue that I won’t get into now. But there weren’t any studies quantifying animal pain or examining how different species process discomfort.
Geni Wren, Communications Specialist for the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, wrote an article in Bovine Veterinarian that said the “assessment of individual animal behavioral changes in response to pain is very subjective and can be influenced by differences in individual perception and interpretation. Since cattle were the natural prey of several predators, it is their nature to disguise signs of pain as much as possible.”
Our inability to measure pain in other species objectively is the reason thatthere are no analgesic drugs formally approved by the FDA for the alleviation of pain in food animals, said Wren. However, vaccinations are considered, both by welfare researchers and livestock raisers, the best way to prevent and alleviate suffering in livestock species. A survey conducted in the UK found that 83% of farmers administered medications for the sole reason of animal welfare.
Livestock raisers have even taken steps to protect animals from these pain sensations. One example is through what’s called a livestock immobilizer, and is quite common in cattle. Basically, it is a probe that’s inserted into the animal’s rectum and hits a nerve with an electrical impulse that carries all the way to the brain. This makes the animal be still while canceling out many of their pain receptors. One study conducted by Farmfreund found that “judicious use of the cattle immobilizer may help improve safety both the farmer and the animal.”
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Photo from www.jmsales.com
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My family actually used this equipment on our ranch, and I saw firsthand how it reduced the stresses of regular cattle work, including vaccinations, branding, castration, and bloodwork. The animals would come right back into the chute the next time around without hesitation.
There are many other ways to reduce stress in livestock. The Alberta Agriculture & Forestry Department, which plays an integral role in enacting animal welfare policies in Canada’s livestock industry, acknowledged that consistent feedings of nutritional substances, including hay, along with constant access to clean drinking water is crucial to keeping food animals calm, healthy, and content. All seasoned livestock raisers know that regular vaccinations, frequently checking all of the animals, and maintaining a stress-free environment clear of varmints, unhealthy feedstuffs, or negative climatic conditions is imperative to living up to the ethical obligations of caring for animals and also having a productive farm.
There are many other ways to reduce stress in livestock. The Alberta Agriculture & Forestry Department, which plays an integral role in enacting animal welfare policies in Canada’s livestock industry, acknowledged that consistent feedings of nutritional substances, including hay, along with constant access to clean drinking water is crucial to keeping food animals calm, healthy, and content. All seasoned livestock raisers know that regular vaccinations, frequently checking all of the animals, and maintaining a stress-free environment clear of varmints, unhealthy feedstuffs, or negative climatic conditions is imperative to living up to the ethical obligations of caring for animals and also having a productive farm.