Considerations on ethics and animal welfare in extensive pig production: Breeding and fattening Iberian pigs |
| |
Authors: | MA Aparicio Tovar JD Vargas Giraldo |
| |
Institution: | aAgriculture and Farming Economy, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad, s/n. 10071 Cáceres, Spain |
| |
Abstract: | The extensive pig production in Spain is traditionally characterised by: the use of the Iberian pig, an autochthonous breed perfectly integrated into the environment in which they have developed; a long duration of the productive cycle for about 23–24 months; a high level of animal welfare level, specially in the fattening process with freedom of movement and feeding base on natural sources: acorns and grass, and an equilibrated “dehesa” agro-forestry system where this activity has been developed. Nowadays, the introduction of more intensificated methods due to the increasing demand led to important changes, such as: the shortening of the productive cycle (10–12 months); freeing from the territorial base; changes during the fattening period, fattening with mixed feed and less animal freedom. All these facts may implicate a loss of the animal welfare condition. These circumstances lead us to question it from an ethical point of view. |
| |
Keywords: | Extensive pig production Breeds Outdoor Animal welfare Ethics |
本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录! |
|