Lecture 4

Question 1

What is the consumer disconnection from livestock practices?

2pt

Answer 1

• Gap between reality and expectations
• Veterinarians should be a source of trustful information on agricultural practices, otherwise someone else will do it

“I know that I would hate to be in a cage, so I can extrapolate that a chicken would hate to be in a cage.”
“Well, I guess just looking back to the smaller farms, and how it used to be – communication, petting the animal, going out there and just giving them nurturing and loving.”

Question 2

If a label says no use of antibiotic, is it true?

1pt

Answer 2

not always true
“Although USDA-approved labels carry credibility and value in the marketplace, the agency does not require empirical antibiotic testing to validate them.“

Question 3

What is the Public willingness-to-pay for farm animal welfare?

3pt

Answer 3

• Sales of welfare friendly products are much lower than the reported levels of concern
• Perceptions and attitudes vary in time and space Observing changing trends is important
• Citizen demands should be imposed with caution when these are not further confirmed with scientific evidence

Question 4

What is Changing Demographics of the Livestock Industries doing?

3pt

Answer 4

• As margins get tighter, operations get larger with more animal units per farm.
• Pro Animal welfare on the herd basis may improve (i.e. better vaccination protocols, SOPs for euthanasia, more reliance on nutritional and animal health consultants, better health records).
• Con The dollar value of the individual animal decreases and a general desensitization of individual animal suffering can develope

Question 5

What is one welfare?

1pt

Answer 5

It builds on the One Health concept, and is a way to recognize the many social interconnections between human welfare, animal welfare and the integrity of the environment

Question 6

What is the human-livestock connection?

3pt

Answer 6

• Health and welfare of farmed animals is closely linked to the well-being of producers.
• Cases of animal neglect are often precipitated by mental health issues.
• Animal disease events (e.g. depopulation) have a significant impact on the well-being of producers

Question 7

What is the farmers mental health like?

5pt

Answer 7

• 1132 participants: 22% beef cattle; 4.5% Saskatchewan
• 61.9% in psychological distress
• 33.2% probable cases of anxiety
• 14.6% Probable cases of depression
• 71.1 resilience score (average population in US 75.7-83.0)

Question 8

What are the human livestock interactions?

4pt

Answer 8

The stockperson
* Skills
* Experience
* Beliefs
* (Lack of) training
* Ext. pressure
Use of aversive handling
The animal
* Negative experience
* Chronic fear
* Stress
Reduced welfare, health and productivity

Question 9

What is the ink between animal welfare and animal health?

1pt

Answer 9

By default animal welfare is strongly bound to the veterinarian’s role, since an animal’s health has an
inherent link to its well being.

Question 10

What is the Relationship of welfare-health?

1pt

Answer 10

Many welfare problems (not directly related to health) are risk factors for several diseases (e.g. lameness in dairy cows)

Question 11

What is the Impact of stress on immune function?

4pt

Answer 11

• Many welfare problems are associated to a stress response, which increases the risk of disease.
• Increases gut permeability
• Alters expression of neutrophil genes (antibacterial function)
• Challenges immune system

Question 12

How does Stress hormones tend to suppress immune function?

2pt

Answer 12

• The individual’s resources are preferentially allocated to processes more crucial for surviving the stressor
• It prevents immune cells from mounting misdirected attacks towards host-derived molecules (e.g., antigens) newly revealed to the immune system in response to the stressor

Question 13

What is the Affective state on health?

3pt

Answer 13

• Positive welfare (positive emotional state) increases immune function
• A lot of evidence from humans. Not so much in animals, as difficult to assess these states, but there is indirect evidence
• Negative affective state -> Aggressive behaviour -> Increased response to pain and stress -> Altered immune function -> Reduced growth rate

Question 14

What should veterinarians do to help
address animal welfare issues?

2pt

Answer 14

• As a veterinarian you have the responsibility and the opportunity to educate and work with your clients on animal welfare issues (e.g. when to cull, when to euthanize, ways to mitigate pain and reduce suffering, etc.).
• The attitude that you have towards these issues will set the standards that your clients will follow.

Question 15

What is the veterinary oath?

5pt

Answer 15

“As a member of the veterinary medical profession, I solemnly swear that I will use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society. I will strive to:
* promote animal health and welfare
* prevent and relieve animal suffering
* protect the health of the public and the environment
* advance comparative medical knowledge”