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Electric shock control of farmed animals: Welfare review and ethical critique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

D Grumett  and
A Butterworth
D Grumett*
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh, New College, Mound Place, Edinburgh EH1 2LX, UK
A Butterworth
Affiliation:
WelfareMax and Animal Welfare Training Ltd, 14 Stonewell Lane, Congresbury, Bristol BS49 5DL, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

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The available methods of electric shock control or containment of farmed animals are increasing and potentially include: (i) fixed and movable electric fencing; (ii) cattle trainers; (iii) prods or goads; (iv) wires in poultry barns; (v) dairy collecting yard backing gates; (vi) automated milking systems (milking robots); and (vii) collars linked to virtual fencing and containment systems. Since any electric shock is likely to cause a farmed animal pain, any such control or containment must, to be ethically justifiable, bring clear welfare benefits that cannot be practicably delivered in other ways. Associated areas of welfare concern with ethical implications include the displacement of stockpersons by technology, poor facility design, stray voltage, coercive behavioural change and indirect impacts on human society and values.

Keywords

animal welfareautomated milking systemcollarelectric fencingelectric shockethics
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 31 , Issue 3 , August 2022 , pp. 373 - 385
Copyright
© 2022 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

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