Page 12 - The Welfare of Cattle

Preface

As is the case in all areas of animal agriculture, the cattle industry has undergone unprec-
edented changes over the last century. With the exception of extensive ranching, which remains
structurally very close to its historical roots, all aspects of the cattle industry have been significantly
restructured. This includes cattle feeding in feedlots, highly industrialized dairies milking huge
numbers of cows, and slaughterhouses killing unimaginable numbers of animals who have been
transported great distances. Most importantly, the core values of traditional cattle agriculture—
husbandry, stewardship, and way of life—have been supplanted to a significant extent by industrial
values of efficiency and productivity. This in turn necessitates a new reevaluation of cattle welfare.
The purpose of this book is to provide the reader with a basic understanding of contemporary
cattle production and how one achieves good welfare for the animals.
Pursuant to this goal, the book is divided into four segments. The first segment provides an
account of major factors that have led to, and been occasioned by, the industrialization of the cattle
industry. An introductory chapter sets the stage for the seven White Papers that follow, and are
designed to provide the reader with relevant empirical information setting the stage for the remain-
der of the book.
The second segment focuses on considerations relevant to all aspects of cattle production, both
beef and dairy. The third segment is specifically devoted to the production of beef cattle, with the
final segment focusing on dairy. The reader should be aware that there is a significant amount of
overlap between the industries since many dairy cattle end their lives as beef.
Veterinarian and historian Calvin Schwabe once remarked that the cow is “the mother of the
human race,” and we need to be especially careful of how that mother is treated. It is in the spirit of
that injunction that we have produced this book.

Bernard E. Rollin

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