Een kwestie van gevoel

Filosofen hebben tal van theorieën ontwikkeld over hoe mensen met dieren om zouden moeten gaan. Maar welke van deze visies raken je en waarom? Is dat niet een kwestie van gevoel? En welke sentimenten doen er eigenlijk toe

Being with other animals: transitioning toward sustainable food futures

How do non-human animals (hereafter animals) fit into sustainable food futures? This question prompts ethical reflection. However, especially in times of transformative change, one should not overlook ontological assumptions before engaging in ethics. We follow up on the work of the late Australian philosopher Val Plumwood as she prominently made this move to the ontological level when considering the edibility of animals. As she invites one (1) to listen to animals as well as (2) to embody one's own edibility, salient ontological assumptions about how humans relate to other animals, and the rest of reality, rise to the surface. While Plumwood also developed a modest ethical framework to address animal edibility, her ontological approach is highlighted here, especially as it appears to point toward moral relativism. Plumwood's ontological approach is further developed, notably by unraveling the dualism between self and other. Doing so results in a more non-conceptual way of relating to other animals. As a genuinely interdependent way of engaging with reality, it appears most relevant to considering what role animals might have in sustainable food futures

Smart Technologies Lead to Smart Answers? On the Claim of Smart Sensing Technologies to Tackle Animal Related Societal Concerns in Europe Over Current Pig Husbandry Systems

Current pig production systems in Europe are subject to public criticism. At the same time, Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) technologies, which allow for automated animal monitoring are entering commercial pig farms. With their claim of improving animal health and welfare, these innovations may respond to public concerns. However, they may raise problems of societal acceptance themselves. In this review, we investigate whether the available literature allows for an analysis to which extent PLF can mitigate or reinforce societal concerns related to pig production. We first analyze papers on pig husbandry systems in general, and then those on PLF as an innovation in animal production. In general, there is a tension between citizens and farmers. Citizens hold rather negative attitudes whereas farmers evaluate pig production more positively. Literature on attitudes of other actors, such as veterinarians, is missing. Information on the attitudes toward PLF of stakeholders other than farmers is lacking. Possible challenges of societal acceptance of PLF and chances to overcome these are only discussed in theoretical approaches. We conclude that to analyze the role of PLF in addressing societal concerns over pig production, there is a need for further empirical research including attention to underlying values of all stakeholders. This should focus on the attitudes of the currently missing stakeholders toward pig husbandry in general, and on those of the wider society toward PLF. Only by means of additional data, it will be possible to evaluate whether PLF has the potential to address societal concerns related to pig production

Caught on Camera: On the Need of Responsible Use of Video Observation for Animal Behavior and Welfare Research

Video analysis is a popular and frequently used tool in animal behavior and welfare research. In addition to the actual object of research, video recordings often provide unforeseen information about the progress of the study, the animals or the people involved. Conflicts can arise when this information is weighed against the original intention of the recordings and broader social expectations. Uncertainty may prevent the video observers, often less experienced researchers, to properly address these conflicts, which can pose a threat to animal welfare and research quality and integrity. In this article, we aim to raise awareness of the interrelationship of variables characteristic for video-based animal studies and the potential conflicts emerging from this. We propose stepping stones for a framework which enables a culture of openness in dealing with unexpected and unintended events observed during video analysis. As a basis, a frame of reference regarding privacy and duty of care toward animals should be created and shared with all persons involved. At this stage, expectations and responsibilities need to be made explicit. During running and reporting of the study, the risk of animal welfare and research integrity issues can be mitigated by making conflicts discussible and offering realistic opportunities on how to deal with them. A practice which is outlined and guided by conversation will prevent a mere compliance-based approach centered on checklists and decision trees. Based on these stepping stones, educational material can be produced to foster reflection, co-creation and application of ethical practice

33. What if we lack a licence to kill – thinking out-of-the-box in our relationship with liminal rodents

During previous EurSafe conferences we presented our work about the treatment of liminal rodents in pest management. When it comes to moral status and animal welfare, these animals are generally overlooked. We found that stakeholders involved with pest management feel the need to take the moral position and welfare of liminal rodents more seriously. e outcomes of this study were the start of a multi-stakeholder project to develop an assessment frame for a more responsible rodent management. In order to facilitate ethical decision-making in pest management, various authors have indicated animal research ethics as a valuable source. In this paper we question the relevance of animal research ethics for dealing with liminal animals. Our main concern is that animal research ethics seem to start with the assumption that animal interests can be infringed upon when good reasons are given as a justication. Anectodical information from professionals in the eld of rodent management indicates that it is possible to leave the current default position and minimize or even abolished such infringement of rodent interests, while still addressing the nuisance experienced by humans. We aim to explore the potential of non-killing methods as a means to mediate liminal rodent – human conicts by employing a thought experiment in which we retract the ‘licence to kill’. We elaborate on this informed by the concept of liminal rodents as denizens, looking into ecological and socio-cultural carrying capacity and ways to overcome stigmatisation due to feelings of fear and disgust. With this paper we hope to inspire other scientists and professionals in the eld to think out-of-the-box when it comes to the relation between humans and liminal rodent

How Do Technologies Affect How We See and Treat Animals? Extending Technological Mediation Theory to Human-animal Relations

Human practices in which animals are involved often include the application of technology: some farmed animals are for example milked robotically or monitored by smart technologies, laboratory animals are adapted to specific purposes through the application of biotechnologies, and pets have their own social media accounts. Animal ethicists have raised concerns about some of these practices, but tend to assume that technologies are just neutral intermediaries in human-animal relations. This paper questions that assumption and addresses how technologies might shape human-animal relations in non-neutral ways. Building on the technological mediation approach, it proposes that technologies can influence human-animal relations by amplifying and reducing certain aspects of animals in human perception or by inviting and inhibiting certain actions towards animals. The paper next considers, in two concretizing steps, how this theoretical starting point can enrich ethical discussions on technology and human-animal relations. First, it shows how the technological mediation approach can help to conceptualize a main concern that has been raised regarding the impact of technologies on human-animal relations, namely the concern that animals might be ‘instrumentalized’ or ‘objectified’ in certain technological practices. Second, it considers how this approach can guide investigations of how particular technologies might affect human-animal relations, taking genetic selection technologies as used in livestock breeding as a case. The paper closes by briefly reviewing the prospects and challenges for the application of the technological mediation approach to human-animal relations, thus sketching directions for future research

Intrinsiek belangrijk. Een stappenplan voor de belangenafweging rond de intrinsieke waarde van het dier

The report was prepared and written on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV). It is primarily intended for policy makers and staff involved in topics that relate to animals. Section 1 describes the reason and purpose of this report: to establish a policy-supporting framework for weighing up the intrinsic value of animals. The criteria this framework must comply with are also stated. Section 2 describes the background and definition of intrinsic value. This is done by elaborating on how the intrinsic value of the animal is included in the Dutch Animals Act, which choices were made in this respect from an ethical perspective, how this is currently interpreted and the practical consequences. It also elaborates on interests and values as central elements in the process of deliberation that must be followed as a consequence of recognising the intrinsic value of animals. Section 3 contains the step-by-step plan that ultimately forms the policy support framework. The user of the step-by-step plan proceeds through 12 steps. This process presents and clarifies the interests that are involved and which must be deliberated on, and proposes a framework to balance the interests. The step-by-step plan can be used to support policy and further choices and can also be used to clarify, explain or justify policies and the associated choices in a structured and transparent manner. Section 4 illustrates the stages in the step-by-step plan taking two cases as examples. The examples concern the performance of physical interventions on animals in the livestock farming sector. Although the examples are based on practices in the animal husbandry sector, the steps in plan can be applied to any context in which the intrinsic value of the animal has to be weighed up and balanced. The examples in this section aim to show readers how the step-by-step plan works and provide guidance on how to use the plan. We hope that the examples will clarify the step-by-step plan and make it actionable in practice. The examples are purely illustrative. They are not intended to be used to benchmark existing practices or decisions or to attach a value judgement to them. The chosen scores of the relevant interests in particular are indicative. Different scores may result if the cases used as examples are discussed with a wider group of stakeholders

Do we improve any aspects of animal welfare by implementing Computer Vision in livestock farming?

Computer Vision technology has been developed recently as a tool for measuring behaviour on the individual level in group housed livestock. This form of digital agriculture or precision livestock farming has the potential to answer to public concerns on farm animal welfare by using the data to reduce the risk of harmful social interactions such as tail biting in pig production and severe feather pecking in laying hen production. Computer Vision, however comes with changes to livestock farming and therefore can lead to new moral questions. Currently it has not resulted in much public debate. We argue that this is not to be understood as a sign that there are no societal and ethical challenges, but that – as part of responsible research and innovation – this is an important moment to explore and analyse the potential societal and ethical issues. In this paper we aim to explore the moral dimensions of the use of Computer Vision in livestock farming with a special focus on poultry. We analyse the moral dimensions from an animal welfare perspective. Although introduced to prevent welfare risks or improve the welfare status of animals, this innovation can lead to welfare questions depending on one’s concept of animal welfare

How smart should resilience be? On the need of a transdisciplinary approach to transform pig production systems

Pig production is related to many societal challenges. This raises the question whether and how pig production systems can be transformed in a way that better includes animal welfare and is responsive to (other) societal concerns. In a project funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), we focus on the role of resilience to explore the possibilities of defining novel production systems that better match with the interests and adaptive capacities of animals. However, to play this central role, the concept of resilience needs an integrated and transdisciplinary approach. Using the ‘SmartResilience’ project as an example, we argue that to address societal challenges in livestock production it is not sufficient to view one topic through the lenses of multiple disciplines and to produce research results from each discipline which are only supplementary to one another. We argue why complex societal challenges like transforming livestock systems can only be tackled by real collaboration between different disciplines, and why this collaboration already needs to start in the design-phase of innovations. We discuss three stages of collaboration that will lead to a deepened integration of disciplines, which will ultimately result in positive societal impact: (1) identifying the underlying concepts that play a role for achieving the project aim (e.g. animal welfare, resilience); (2) making the implicit assumptions of these concepts explicit by integrating knowledge and methods from different disciplines (e.g. philosophy and animal science); and (3) translating and incorporating the explicit assumptions of concepts into practice and into further actions within the project (e.g. pig breeding or housing strategies). By doing this, we expect to prepare a route forward for more welfare-friendly and sustainable pig production that is in dialogue with society

The Need for an Alternative to Culling Day-Old Male Layer Chicks: A Survey on Awareness, Alternatives, and the Willingness to Pay for Alternatives in a Selected Population of Dutch Citizens

A concerning by-product of producing laying hen chicks are the hatched male layer chicks. As a consequence of their inability to lay eggs, these male chicks are culled as day-old chicks in the hatchery. To find an alternative for this ethical dilemma (generally), three alternatives are under study, namely, in ovo sex determination, using dual-purpose breeds, and the rearing of layer cockerels. In order to assess the awareness of this practice and preference for one of the alternatives, we conducted an online survey of the Dutch public. Most of the 259 respondents completing the survey were highly educated woman (HEW, n = 143) versus others (REST, n = 86). The questionnaire was divided into six topics: (1) general knowledge of the poultry industry, (2) awareness of culling male layer chicks (CMC), and (3) its acceptability, (4) alternatives to CMC, (5) willingness to pay (WTP) for eggs without CMC, and (6) WTP for cockerel meat. Awareness about CMC was 52%, and its acceptability was rejected by 78% (HEW) and 67% (REST). The level of acceptability increased when more salient facts were given, and almost all respondents agreed that an alternative was needed (90% HEW, 84% REST). For both groups of respondents, more than 50% preferred in ovo sex determination over keeping the current practice or using dual-purpose breeds or male layers. Furthermore, the majority of respondents were willing to pay more than double the price for eggs without CMC being involved. Roughly 40% would not buy processed cockerel meat burgers, most likely due to their vegan or vegetarian diet. Of the remaining respondents, half were willing to pay the current price or 1 euro more for processed cockerel meat burgers. The most important factors when buying poultry meat or eggs without CMC were food safety, animal friendliness (welfare), and the environment; price was the least important factor. Despite the skewed respondents' background, the results of our survey show that consumers are willing to pay more for poultry products that do not require culling day-old male chicks.</jats:p