Page 229 - The Welfare of Cattle
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206 the WeLfare of CattLe
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
Million bushels 8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
–
1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020
Year
Figure 19.1 Corn production in the united states, 1866–2017. united states department of agriculture,
economic research service.
Morrill Acts of 1862, have resulted in large increases in corn production over the past 150 years
(Wagner et al., 2014). Annual corn production in the United States has increased from an average of
2.65 billion bushels per year during World War II to over 15 billion bushels by 2016 (USDA Econ.
Res. Ser., 2017, Figure 19.1). The post-World War II abundance of corn and other cereal grains
fueled large surpluses of inexpensive feed which promoted the development of large-scale confined
animal feeding operations.
Confined animal feeding operations, including beef cattle feedlots, have evolved into highly
sophisticated, complex systems that are very dependent upon technology. Rollin (2004) called this
evolution “a loss of husbandry to industry” and stated further that this change “threatened the
traditional fair contract between humans and animals.” The purpose of this chapter is to evaluate
the feedlot industry regarding cattle well-being issues and identify areas where the “Fair Contract”
described by Rollin has been either maintained or challenged.
the FIVe FreeDOMS
As discussed in an earlier chapter, the well-being of an animal can be described by “The Five
Freedoms.” Conklin (2014) described these freedoms as follows:
1. Freedom from hunger and thirst: by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and
vigor.
2. Freedom from discomfort: by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a com-
fortable resting area.
3. Freedom from pain, injury, or disease: by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
