Pain and Suffering in Farmed Animals: First Steps in Better Understanding and Management

This unique reference covers a spectrum of livestock species, including those involved in food and fibre production and in research. The renowned team of authors addresses numerous aspects related to the care and use of these animals in a range of environments. In addition to a species-specific discussion of pain and suffering, important issues related to common husbandry procedures such as disbudding, castration, tail docking, and more are addressed. Production animal pain has not yet been treated as a specific topic in a single book, with sentient animals ranging from crustaceans to mammals and everything in between. This volume demonstrates the extent to which the human species is currently dependent on farmed animals and their "managers." By highlighting the large number of animals affected, it shows how even modest improvements in pain management can have significant overall benefits, and thus encourages all who are in a position to recognize and make improvements to do so.  Clearly structured in four parts, this volume presents pain and suffering in farmed animals in a manner that will inform diverse and often conflicting "stakeholders," i.e., veterinarians, producers, consumers, animal welfare scientists, legislators as well as animal welfare advocacy, environmental and agricultural reform groups. The range of animal species covered and the detailed description of pain types will further engage biologists, biomedical research, and university teaching.