Animal Care and Welfare

Nancy Thelen, MSU Extension Agriculture Literacy Educator and the Washtenaw County 4-H Junior

Livestock Committee

Animal Rights

• Animals should be viewed as non-human persons and shouldn’t be used for food, clothing, research subjects, or entertainment. (Animals having rights)

Animal Welfare

• The human responsibility of the animals well being (taking good care of animals)

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)

• Largest animal rights organization in the world• PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest

numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in laboratories, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry.

• PETA has a $33 million annual budget. But instead of investing in the lives of the thousands of flesh and blood creatures in its care, the group spends millions on media campaigns telling Americans that eating meat, drinking milk, fishing, hunting, wearing leather shoes, and benefiting from medical research performed on lab rats are all unethical.

HSUS (The Humane Society of the United States)

• Whereas PETA is the largest animal rights organization in the world, HSUS is the nation’s largest and most effective animal protection organization

• work to reduce suffering and to create meaningful social change for animals by advocating for sensible public policies, investigating cruelty and working to enforce existing laws, educating the public about animal issues, joining with corporations on behalf of animal-friendly policies, and conducting hands-on programs that make ours a more humane world.

• Not your local animal shelter• Mission to eliminate animal agriculture

Pre-Show Management

• Prepare a safe, dry and warm place for your animal before you bring it home.

• Make sure animal has plenty of clean water and food on a regular basis

• Start training animal to be handled at a young age-do not wait until a few weeks before the fair

Pre-Show Management Cont…

• Observe animals to make sure they are healthy and eating.

• Make sure they have all vaccinations that are required

• Make sure that animal has been castrated, dehorned or docked if needed when they are young

• When time for fair-load animals safely

Show Management

• Make sure pens have plenty of space. Provide clean bedding and make sure it is cleaned out regularly

• Make sure animals have plenty of fresh water

• Care for your animal the entire week

• Keep the animal area clean

Show Management Cont…

• Treat your animal with respect:Hogs-Do not use oils when fitting,use just

plain water by spraying them with a water bottle,do not beat the pig with your show cane, pipe, or whip. Complete the PQA training.

Show Management Cont…

• Sheep-Do not leave on fitting stand, make sure you protect them after being shorn and washed from flies

• Beef-Do not leave in grooming chute alone, make sure you have a properly fitting halter, do not use products that have withdrawal period

• Dairy-Do not inject anything into the teat or udder area, follow proper milking practice

Humane vs. Inhumane Practices

Provide plenty of clean drinking water• Humane

• Inhumane

Observe animals daily and get treatment if needed

• Humane

• Inhumane

Leaving animals tied for long periods of time especially in the sunlight

• Humane

• Inhumane

Failure to feed and water animal regularly

• Humane

• Inhumane

Failure to keep pens and stalls clean, especially at the shows

• Humane

• Inhumane

Follow planned health/vaccination program

• Humane

• Inhumane

Feed a balanced ration

• Humane

• Inhumane

Pulling animals behind a vehicle to train them to walk

• Humane

• Inhumane

Taking personal frustration out on an animal during or after a bad show or ride.

• Humane

• Inhumane

Scenario

Courtesy of University of Wisconsin

Bernie O’Rourke

Extension Youth Livestock Specialist

Adam Hady

Richland County Ag Agent

Which student is getting the most out of their project from the information

given so far?

• Buffy (Horses)

• Naomi (Goats)

• Petunia (Dairy)

• Adam (Poultry)

Which youth member is the least involved in their project before the

fair?

• Buffy (horses)

• Naomi (goats)

• Petunia (dairy)

• Adam (poultry)

Which youth member is best defined as a communicator?

• Buffy (horses)

• Naomi (goats)

• Petunia (dairy)

• Adam (poultry)

Which youth member exhibited the best sportsmanship?

• Buffy (horses)

• Naomi (goats)

• Petunia (dairy)

• Adam (poultry)

Which youth member appeared to not have worked with their animal

prior to fair?

• Buffy (horses)

• Naomi (goats)

• Petunia (dairy)

• Adam (poultry)

Which youth member was the least trustworthy?

• Buffy (horses)

• Naomi (goats)

• Petunia (dairy)

• Adam (poultry)

Which youth member was the most responsible in caring for their

animal?

• Buffy (horses)

• Naomi (goats)

• Petunia (dairy)

• Adam (poultry)

Between Buffy and Naomi, who showed more respect to the judge?

• Buffy (horses)

• Naomi (goats)

What is NOT meant by respect?

A. The Golden Rule- “Do unto others as you would have done to you”

B. Treat others with respect.

C. Value and honor others

D. Record birth dates correctly.

What is meant by responsibility?

A. Feed approved feed rations.

B. Adhere to possession (ownership) dates

C. Gain knowledge about the animal you are showing.

D. All of the above

Talking Points

Exhibitors may be asked some difficult questions about animal welfare. Most people are just being curious and friendly. Let’s listen in to some potential questions we might hear…

If you feel uncomfortable with a question that is being asked…

A. Be honest if you don’t know the answer

B. Ask an older exhibitor

C. Excuse yourself and ask responsible adult

D. All of the above

Questions for You