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Med henblik på at afdække befolkningens holdninger til svineproduktion og produktionens virkning for miljøet, dyrenes velfærd og fødevaresikkerheden er der gennemført en interviewundersøgelse, hvor et udvalg af personer redegør for deres... more
Med henblik på at afdække befolkningens holdninger til svineproduktion og produktionens virkning for miljøet, dyrenes velfærd og fødevaresikkerheden er der gennemført en interviewundersøgelse, hvor et udvalg af personer redegør for deres syn på moderne svineproduktion samt for argumenterne bag deres holdninger til materielle og immaterielle kvaliteter. Resultaterne af undersøgelsen beskrives i kapitel 2, hvor der også redegøres for resultaterne af en tilsvarende undersøgelse iværksat på foranledning af Danske Slagterier. I kapitel 3 sættes dansk svineproduktion ind i en samfundsøkonomisk kontekst hvor der lægges vægt på at forklare baggrunden for den fortsat stigende produktion og de faktorer, der har medvirket til erhvervets stærke eksportorientering. Udviklingen i det globale forbrug af svinekød analyseres, og der gives et rids over udviklingen i dansk svineproduktion siden slutningen af 1800-tallet for at vise, hvorledes sektoren har klaret sig i op- og nedgangsperioder. Økonomie...
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It is claimed that positive animal welfare (PAW) developed over the last decade in reaction to animal welfare focusing too much on avoiding negatives. However, it remains unclear what PAW adds to the animal welfare literature and to what... more
It is claimed that positive animal welfare (PAW) developed over the last decade in reaction to animal welfare focusing too much on avoiding negatives. However, it remains unclear what PAW adds to the animal welfare literature and to what extent its ideas are new. Through a critical review of the PAW literature, we aim to separate different aspects of PAW and situate it in relation to the traditional animal welfare literature. We find that the core PAW literature is small (n = 10 papers) but links to wider areas of current research interest. The PAW literature is defined by four features: (1) positive emotions which is arguably the most widely acknowledged; (2) positive affective engagement which serves to functionally link positive emotions to goal-directed behavior; (3) quality of life which serves to situate PAW within the context of finding the right balance of positives over negatives; (4) happiness which brings a full life perspective to PAW. While the two first points are alre...
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Okologisk jordbrug, og herunder okologisk husdyrhold, voksede frem i Danmark i 1980erne som en protest mod det intensive landbrug. Fokus var fra starten pa landbrugets pavirkning af miljo og natur, til en vis grad inspireret af den... more
Okologisk jordbrug, og herunder okologisk husdyrhold, voksede frem i Danmark i 1980erne som en protest mod det intensive landbrug. Fokus var fra starten pa landbrugets pavirkning af miljo og natur, til en vis grad inspireret af den biodynamiske bevaegelse. Derimod var der fra begyndelsen ikke saerlig fokus pa dyrevelfaerd i det okologiske jordbrug. Det kom der forst midt i 1990erne. Det er vores klare indtryk, at der i det forlobne arti er sket vaesentlige fremskridt, nar det gaelder om at sikre dyrevelfaerden i den okologiske husdyrproduktion, men der er dog flere grund til at tro, at der fortsat vil vaere udfordringer forbundet med at sikre dyrevelfaerd i det okologiske husdyrhold. I det videre arbejde med dyreetik i regi af okologisk husdyrproduktion er der ikke bare tale om, at der skal foretages afvejninger mellem dyrevelfaerd og andre hensyn (fx okonomi, miljo og fodevaresikkerhed). Der er ogsa tale om, at der er brug for at diskutere forskellige idealer om det gode dyreliv og det gode liv mellem dyr og mennesker.
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Export Date: 18 November 2011, Source: Scopus While it has the potential to deliver important human benefits, animal-based pain research raises ethical questions, because it involves inducing pain in sentient beings. Ethical... more
Export Date: 18 November 2011, Source: Scopus While it has the potential to deliver important human benefits, animal-based pain research raises ethical questions, because it involves inducing pain in sentient beings. Ethical decision-making, connected with this variety of research, requires informed harm-benefit analysis, and the aim of this paper is to provide information for such an analysis. We present an overview of the different models and their consequences for animal welfare, showing that, of the many animal models available, most have a considerable welfare impact on the animal. While the usual approach to pain control through administration of analgesic substances is usually unsuitable in pain research, refinement remains an option, both within the experimental protocol and in general husbandry and handling. Drawing on the overview, we develop a discussion of the ethical acceptability of animal-based pain research against the background of the kinds of harm done to the anim...
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This study examined public support for publicly funded treatment of obesity (weight-loss surgery and medical treatment) and two pulmonary diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer) in Denmark. It also... more
This study examined public support for publicly funded treatment of obesity (weight-loss surgery and medical treatment) and two pulmonary diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer) in Denmark. It also investigated whether beliefs about the causes of lifestyle-related diseases (external environment, genetic disposition and lack of willpower) and agreement that 'people lack responsibility for their life and welfare' influenced support. This was a questionnaire study in which a sample of 1003 Danes (age 18-65 years) drawn from an Internet database were surveyed. Approximately one in three supported publicly funded weight-loss surgery (30%) and medical treatment of obesity (34.4%). A large majority supported treatment for lung cancer (86.1%), and a clear majority also supported treatment for COPD, whether it was framed as 'smoker's lung' (61.9%) or COPD (71.2%). The belief that lifestyle-related diseases are caused by the external environ...
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Modern genetics has given us some very efficient tools with which to alter the characteristics of animals. To date, farm animal breeders have mainly used these tools to increase productivity. Thus, each new generation of farm animals... more
Modern genetics has given us some very efficient tools with which to alter the characteristics of animals. To date, farm animal breeders have mainly used these tools to increase productivity. Thus, each new generation of farm animals matures faster, yields more milk, or produces more meat or eggs, than the previous one. Despite these apparent benefits, modern farm animal breeding has had severe negative consequences, including effects on the quality of the animals' lives and biodiversity. The aim of this paper is to discuss the goals and consequences of farm animal breeding within an ethical context. First, a description of what has happened to broilers and dairy cattle as breeders have pursued the goal of ever more efficient production is given. Second, the ethical values that ought to underlie future breeding schemes are discussed. It is suggested that there are in fact two very different ethical approaches: the 'quality of life-based' approach and the 'preservatio...
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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the evidence for a positive correlation between increased consumption of organic products and potential climate change mitigation via decreased consumption of meat and it is discussed... more
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the evidence for a positive correlation between increased consumption of organic products and potential climate change mitigation via decreased consumption of meat and it is discussed to what extent organic consumption is motivated by climate change concerns. Design/methodology/approach – A fixed effects model together with a factor analysis and ordinary least square are used to analyse household purchase data for 2,000 households in 2006-2010 combined with survey questionnaire data from 2008. Findings – A small but statistically significant correlation between increasing organic budget shares and decreasing meat budget shares is found. People include food-related behaviour such as the purchase of organic food and reduced meat consumption as ways to mitigate climate change. However, other behavioural modifications such as reduction of car usage and household heating are perceived as more important strategies. Research limitations...
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ABSTRACT A number of attitudinal studies have examined support for the use of animals in research. However, on the whole they have come to rather different conclusions. In our research, which is based on focus group discussions held in... more
ABSTRACT A number of attitudinal studies have examined support for the use of animals in research. However, on the whole they have come to rather different conclusions. In our research, which is based on focus group discussions held in Denmark, we attempted to explain this variation by examining the way the relevant attitudes are formed. Although our participants had only limited knowledge of, and interest in, animal use in research, they were perfectly capable of developing reasoned attitudes to it by drawing on evaluative considerations concerning animal use in general. Furthermore, the evaluation of animal research involves a distinct experience of value conflict—between the possible human benefits, on one hand, and a concern for costs to the animal, on the other. Different ways of dealing with this conflict gives rise to different attitudinal stances on animal research: Disapprovers, Reserved, and Approvers. These stances, and their supporting lines of argument, are rather robust, as they are grounded in stable underlying values. However, at the same time they leave room for variable evaluations of different types of animal experiment. This facilitates shifts between disapproval and approval, especially for the Reserved who experience ambivalence. Future quantitative analyses should take into consideration that attitudes in the field of animal experimentation can be viewed (and measured) both at an underlying value-based level and at a context-specific level.
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Recent years have seen a drastic increase in the rates of overweight and obesity among people living in some developed nations. There has also been increased concern over obesity in companion animals. In the latest article in Veterinary... more
Recent years have seen a drastic increase in the rates of overweight and obesity among people living in some developed nations. There has also been increased concern over obesity in companion animals. In the latest article in Veterinary Record's series on One Health, Peter Sandøe and colleagues argue that the relationship between obesity in people and in companion animals is closer and more complex than previously thought, and that obesity should be treated as a One Health problem.
Research Interests: Obesity, Life Style, Medicine, Cats, Dogs, and 5 moreHumans, Animals, Risk factors, Risk Factors, and Veterinary Sciences
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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to assess how concerned Norwegians are about fish welfare; second, to investigate Norwegians’ willingness to pay for salmon filet made from welfare-assured farmed fish with high... more
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to assess how concerned Norwegians are about fish welfare; second, to investigate Norwegians’ willingness to pay for salmon filet made from welfare-assured farmed fish with high levels of welfare; and third, to examine Norwegian opinions about the appropriate way to pay for better welfare standards in fish production. Design/methodology/approach – On the basis of two focus group sessions, a survey questionnaire was developed and distributed to a representative sample of 2,147 Norwegian households via e-mail. Findings – Results showed that the Norwegian public is concerned about fish welfare and is willing to pay a price premium for products made from welfare-assured fish. Norwegian consumers do not, however, want to be the only ones paying for fish welfare, as the main responsibility for fish welfare lies with producers and the Government. Research limitations/implications – In this study willingness to pay is measured using a...
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Research Interests: Ethics, Public Opinion, Political Science, European Union, Risk assessment, and 15 moreMedicine, Denmark, Transparency, Animal Feed, Political Liberalism, Drug Resistance, Genetically modified organisms, Herbicides, Environmental Risk Assessment, Social Values, Risk Assessment, Glycine, Environmental, Beta Vulgaris, and Government Regulation
ABSTRACT What should we protect when managing and conserving wildlife? There’s no single answer. Competing values, and different prioritizations of values create ethical dilemmas and disagreements. Although the idea of “wildlife” is... more
ABSTRACT What should we protect when managing and conserving wildlife? There’s no single answer. Competing values, and different prioritizations of values create ethical dilemmas and disagreements. Although the idea of “wildlife” is usually taken to mean animals not bred or controlled by humans, increasingly, wild animals are not just left alone to live their own lives. In response to pressures on wild animals and their habitats, a nature and wildlife protection movement has grown over the last two centuries. Often this protection has taken the form of active wildlife management, where some species are controlled as part of a policy to promote the success of other species. This raises key questions about the responsibilities we have to wild animals. What should we try to protect? How should we balance different, potentially conflicting, values such as nature protection and individual animal welfare? First, we’ll give an overview of wildlife management values central to these debates. Then we’ll outline five different possible ethical perspectives through which it is possible to think about wildlife management and conservation. http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/ethics-of-wildlife-management-and-conservation-what-80060473
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Research Interests: Ethics, Technology, Bioethics, Animal Welfare, Genetic Engineering, and 15 moreBiological Sciences, Humans, Models, Germ Cells, Biomedical Research, Animals, Scientific Communication, Transgenesis, Genetically Modified, Refinement, Callithrix, Transgenic, Human Disease, Transgenic Mouse Technology, and Mono
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a Centre for Applied Bioethics, School of Biosciences, Veterinary Medicine and Science Building, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK b Ethics Institute & Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University,... more
a Centre for Applied Bioethics, School of Biosciences, Veterinary Medicine and Science Building, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK b Ethics Institute & Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, NL-3584 CS UTRECHT, The Netherlands c Department of Large Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences, Grønnegårdsvej 8, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Research Interests: Sociology, Psychology, Computer Science, Perception, Applied Ethics, and 15 moreGenomics, Political Science, Group Processes, Medicine, Social Responsibility, Uncertainty, Humans, Stakeholder Engagement, Animals, Attitude, Social Values, Ethical Issues, Ethics Research, Bioethical Issues, and Residence Characteristics
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In Western societies scientists are increasingly expected to seek media exposure and cooperate with industry. Little attention has been given to the way such expectations affect the role of scientific experts in society. To investigate... more
In Western societies scientists are increasingly expected to seek media exposure and cooperate with industry. Little attention has been given to the way such expectations affect the role of scientific experts in society. To investigate scientists’ own perspectives on these issues eight exploratory, in-depth interviews were conducted in Denmark with reputable nutrition scientists. Additionally, eight interviews were held with ‘key
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Although it is widely agreed that veterinary students need to be introduced to ethics, there is limited empirical research investigating the reasons why veterinary ethics is being taught. This study presents the first extensive... more
Although it is widely agreed that veterinary students need to be introduced to ethics, there is limited empirical research investigating the reasons why veterinary ethics is being taught. This study presents the first extensive investigation into the reasons for teaching veterinary ethics and reports data collected in semi-structured interviews with educators involved in teaching undergraduate veterinary ethics at three European schools: the University of Copenhagen, the University of Nottingham, and the Technical University of Lisbon (curricular year 2010–2011). The content of the interview transcripts were analyzed using Toulmin's argumentative model. Ten objectives in teaching veterinary ethics were identified, which can be grouped into four overarching themes: ethical awareness, ethical knowledge, ethical skills, and individual and professional qualities. These objectives include recognizing values and ethical viewpoints, identifying norms and regulations, developing skills ...
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Research Interests: Nutrition and Dietetics, Humanities, Health Promotion, Nutrition, Metabolism, and 15 moreObesity, Science, Research, Medicine, Humans, Biomedical Research, Europe, Nutrient, Public health systems and services research, Food Sciences, Interdisciplinary Communication, Cost of Illness, Cooperative Behavior, Epidemics, and Calories
De-domestication is the deliberate establishment of a population of domesticated animals or plants in the wild. In time, the population should be able to reproduce, becoming self-sustainable and incorporating 'wild' animals. Often... more
De-domestication is the deliberate establishment of a population of domesticated animals or plants in the wild. In time, the population should be able to reproduce, becoming self-sustainable and incorporating 'wild' animals. Often de-domestication is part of a larger nature restoration scheme, aimed at creating landscapes anew, or re-creating former habitats. De-domestication is taken up in this paper because it both engages and raises questions about the major norms governing animals and nature. The debate here concerns whether animals undergoing de-domestication should be looked upon as wild or non-wild and the effect this has on questions about how they should be treated. It also concerns the value of nature, and the kind and degree of nature management considered appropriate. The paper first describes actual de-domestication practices and considers the character of human duties to animals in process of de-domestication. Secondly, the paper explores the implications of de...
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Abstract: Farm animal welfare has now been studied, within a scientific framework, for several decades. The framework does not include ethical issues, but unless measurements of animal welfare at farm level are embedded in an ethical... more
Abstract: Farm animal welfare has now been studied, within a scientific framework, for several decades. The framework does not include ethical issues, but unless measurements of animal welfare at farm level are embedded in an ethical context, there is a danger that ...
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PurposeMeat which has been injected or tumbled with water, salt, sugar and other ingredients, has been available on the Danish market for some decades and is now becoming increasingly common. However, it is not known whether this... more
PurposeMeat which has been injected or tumbled with water, salt, sugar and other ingredients, has been available on the Danish market for some decades and is now becoming increasingly common. However, it is not known whether this so‐called neutrally marinated meat will be appropriated by consumers in the long term, or will be destined to be a marginal second rate product. The purpose of this paper is to explore the views of consumers on neutrally marinated meat, including acceptance and potential problems for appropriation.Design/methodology/approachFour focus group interviews were conducted involving 27 Danish consumers with various socio‐demographic backgrounds.FindingsThe interviewed consumers had very little prior knowledge of neutrally marinated meat, and expressed ambivalent attitudes when introduced to it. They had favourable reactions to its taste, texture and robustness and saw the potentially low price as a positive feature. But they also viewed neutrally marinated meat as...