Health and Ethics of Animal Breeding Flashcards
(24 cards)
What are some health and welfare issues in animal breeding?
Breeding extremes can lead to health problems in companion and production animals.
What is the veterinary profession’s role in UK animal breeding ethics?
o monitor breeding practices, advise ethically, and discourage extreme conformation breeding.
What is the Utilitarian view of animal ethics?
Animals should be treated well to benefit humans.
What does the Parental Responsibility framework imply?
Humans have an ethical duty to care for animals under their responsibility.
What does recognizing animals’ intrinsic value mean?
Animals deserve respect and ethical treatment regardless of their usefulness to humans.
What is the goal of strategic breeding?
To selectively reproduce animals for desired traits.
What are ethical concerns in strategic breeding?
Balancing human needs with animal welfare, and ethical implications of genetic modifications.
Give examples of genetic modifications used in animal breeding.
Cloning and gamete manipulation.
What welfare issues arise from dog over-typing?
Health problems like brachycephalic airway syndrome and over 700 inherited conditions.
What are consequences of overbreeding dogs?
Increased abandonment and euthanasia rates.
How common is assisted reproduction in dog breeding?
Very common, including methods like artificial insemination.
What concerns exist in cat breeding?
Over-typing in certain breeds (e.g., Persians, hairless cats) though it’s less common than in dogs.
What are ethical issues in horse breeding for performance?
Health issues from selective breeding and concerns over assisted reproduction methods.
What problem arises from horse overbreeding?
Unwanted horses leading to neglect and abandonment.
What are the issues in dairy cattle breeding?
Breeding for high milk yield can cause fertility problems.
What health problems occur in beef cattle like the Belgian Blue?
“Double muscling” causes dystocia and other health issues.
What is a welfare concern in pig breeding?
Breeding for large litters can reduce piglet survival rates.
What are the concerns in broiler chicken breeding?
Rapid growth can lead to skeletal and cardiovascular problems.
What ethical concerns exist in fish farming?
Welfare issues and the use of genetically modified fish like AquAdvantage salmon.
What are the risks of cloning animals?
Low success rates, health abnormalities like large offspring syndrome, and ethical concerns over egg retrieval and necessity.
What problems do brachycephalic breeds face?
Breathing issues due to shortened skull structures.
What genetic defect affects Scottish Fold cats?
Cartilage issues leading to arthritis.
What are the issues with Belgian Blue cows?
Dystocia and fertility problems due to excessive muscle mass.
What mobility issue affects broiler chickens?
Skeletal problems due to rapid weight gain.
