Posted by
Katie – August 30th, 2013
Meet Miss Abby Grisedale, a first year Ag Communications major at Oklahoma State University! This little lady grew up on a beautiful cattle ranch in the hills of Central California. I have had the opportunity to not only work with Abby as a past Junior Beef Ambassador but also help her family on their ranch. She is a intelligent, driven, fun-loving gal who is a wonderful advocate for the beef community! I’m so glad to have her as a guest blogger today as she shares with us what animal welfare means to her on her families ranch!
Abby served as Miss Glennville Rodeo being a voice for the sport of rodeo!
As a fifth generation rancher, I place great stock in following the tested and respected traditions used by the generations before me. One of the things that my father and grandfather worked hard to instill in me is the idea that our cows are our livelihood, and that we are theirs. This idea has laid a firm foundation in both my brothers and myself, leaving plenty of room to learn about the ever-changing dynamics of the world around us and the rock solid ideals of being a good steward and treating our animals with respect.
Animal well-being is a term used to describe the current state of the animal. (J.C. Swanson, 2745, 1995) Often used as a synonym for animal welfare in describing the physical status of an animal, including their environment, care and health. In using the term ‘animal welfare’, one is referring to the long-term status of an animal. An issue referred to by Swanson is that the care and well being of animals is dynamic and constantly changing, hence cannot necessarily be contained within ‘animal welfare’. With that said, at the forefront of every cattleman’s mind is the well-being of their cattle.
As a teacher views her students, cultivating their mental productivity and nurturing them to reach their potential, ranchers work to do the same in their herds. In most cases, producing beef is not a hobby, but a livelihood; a source of income and a lifestyle. The sacrifices made to provide people with a safe, healthy and delicious source of nutrients dictates that ranchers don’t do it with a lack of emotion or dedication. No matter the time, weather or date, they’re always prepared to do whatever it takes to get the job done. They care deeply that their cattle are healthy and well treated. Humane animal treatment is more than an expectation set by society, ensuring that animals are treated with respect, but a code lived out by ranchers everywhere who know how important it is to raise beef in a humane and respectable manner.
The downfall of our society today is that animals are viewed as people, with human emotions, and a need for the same rights that we have. In my animal science class at Oklahoma State University, we discussed ‘anthropomorphism’, which is applying human emotions to an animal. This ideal is a leading factor in misinformation and misguided concern in animal activist and the public as a whole. Animals deserve respect and treatment that encourages growth and good health, but we have to be careful that we don’t apply emotions that they don’t have. Their well-being requires physical care, in feeding, vaccinating and protecting them from animals and weather, and some amount of mental care in that they should be kept calm and not stressed to avoid sickness.
Knowing all of that, why is animal well-being important? Is it because we, as an industry want to take care of our animals? Absolutely! Is there more to caring for our animals than just taking care of them? Yes. As beef producers and members of the agriculture industry, beyond caring for our animals, we must advocate for the beef industry and the people who work so hard to keep it’s wheels turning. Our duty is to ensure the safety of the beef industry’s future and the longevity of the agriculture industry as a whole, and part of that is defending our practices against organizations like the HSUS and PETA, as their prerogative is to completely eradicate animal agriculture. No longer is it enough to simply produce animals, but it is a challenge and necessity in today’s age to promote the new practices and innovations we are putting into play in order to produce a safe, healthy and humanely raised product that we can be proud of putting on the market.
Awesome Abby, thanks for sharing with us!
Sin-steer-ly,
Katie
