Temple Grandin
Dr. Temple Grandin is a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. Outside of the classroom, she is probably the most influential figure in the livestock processing industry, as she has literally changed the landscape of plants around the world. The unique livestock handling facilities she designs can be found across the world, including in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In North America, nearly 50% of beef cattle that go to slaughter are handled in equipment that she developed. None of this would have been possible without a very special asset of Grandin’s…
She’s autistic. |
Photo from www.exceptionallives.org
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A renowned author, Temple Grandin has given the world unprecedented insight into the minds of people that science still struggles to explain. Autism is described as a developmental disorder that impairs children’s communication skills and social interactions. Despite numerous obstacles, Grandin achieved a PhD in Animal Science from the University of Illinois, was named one of Times Magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2010, has written two best sellers, had a movie made about her that won seven Emmys and a Golden Globe, has been inducted into The American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and is a leading spokesperson for autism awareness all around the world.
It is being autistic that made Grandin particularly drawn to the issue of animal welfare. In her explanations of how the condition affects her perception of the world, she describes a hypersensitivity to noises and frequent anxiety. Instead of just viewing these as disadvantages, she says that they offer her a unique insight into how livestock animals perceive the world, allowing her to relate with them in a way that most people are unable to.
Despite this bond to animals, she still feels that humans have the right to eat them. One of her most famous quotes is, “I think using animals for food is an ethical thing to do, but we've got to do it right.” By “doing it right,” she is an advocate for alleviating anxiety as much as possible while still understanding what’s eventually going to become of the animals.
The reason that she is the topic of an entire post in this Slaughter Process Series is that, fifty years ago, a lot of the concerns of the animal rights activists were a disturbing reality. The federal Humane Slaughter Act was approved in 1958, but, even after its passage, there was still the issue of what actions are considered “humane” and insuring that every single plant is living up to this standard. Because animal welfare is a very emotional topic, it is easy for evaluations of slaughterhouses to be approached subjectively.
It is being autistic that made Grandin particularly drawn to the issue of animal welfare. In her explanations of how the condition affects her perception of the world, she describes a hypersensitivity to noises and frequent anxiety. Instead of just viewing these as disadvantages, she says that they offer her a unique insight into how livestock animals perceive the world, allowing her to relate with them in a way that most people are unable to.
Despite this bond to animals, she still feels that humans have the right to eat them. One of her most famous quotes is, “I think using animals for food is an ethical thing to do, but we've got to do it right.” By “doing it right,” she is an advocate for alleviating anxiety as much as possible while still understanding what’s eventually going to become of the animals.
The reason that she is the topic of an entire post in this Slaughter Process Series is that, fifty years ago, a lot of the concerns of the animal rights activists were a disturbing reality. The federal Humane Slaughter Act was approved in 1958, but, even after its passage, there was still the issue of what actions are considered “humane” and insuring that every single plant is living up to this standard. Because animal welfare is a very emotional topic, it is easy for evaluations of slaughterhouses to be approached subjectively.
To overcome inspection biases in an objective way, Temple Grandin developed a quantitative scoring system where every auditor is evaluating slaughterhouses with the same standards. This scoring system evaluates how many animals are effectively stunned (to pass an audit, 100% of cattle must be rendered insensible), how many animals vocalize during their time at the plant (a sign of stress), how many animals slip and fall, and how many animals are moved with an electric prod (Grandin advocates never using an electric prod).
To explain almost every step in the process, it is necessary to reference some aspect of Grandin’s research or explain the animal welfare benefits of her facility designs. I will also feature some of her videos, where she walks through animal slaughter that’s done the right way. |
Thanks to Temple Grandin’s innovations, we can have confidence in our food production systems, including the peace of mind that no animals suffered for our meal.