The welfare implications of animal breeding and breeding technologies in commercial agriculture

Abstract The commercial applications in agriculture of new breeding technologies, as well as conventional breeding strategies, have the potential to influence animal welfare in both positive and negative ways. For example, the sexing of cattle semen might be used to reduce the number of unwanted male dairy calves provided that the technique had not been shown to produce adverse effects. On the other hand, inappropriate use of some breeding technologies may create new problems, or exacerbate welfare problems that may already have arisen within conventional livestock breeding. It is the impact of any breeding technology or strategy that is important to welfare, whether it is the quality of life of the offspring that is compromised, or whether it is the application of the technology itself that causes pain, distress or lasting harm to the subject animal. The aim of this paper is to provide clear and practical advice on the establishment of an appropriate framework within which developments in animal breeding and breeding technologies, and the outcome of such processes, may be considered, monitored and, where necessary, regulated. It builds on recommendations recently made by the FAWC to UK Government, and considers the wider public interest in these technologies. Finally, the response from stakeholders is considered in attempting to ensure that such controls do not render production systems non-competitive in a global livestock industry.