Ethical aspects of intensive animal production

The achievement of cost efficient animal production raises some ethical issues.  These remain minor as long as cost efficiency does not entail environmental degradation, reduction in animal welfare, increased disease risk, all over use of therapeutants.

The idea would be to achieve optimal survival and continuous growth, sustained by feeding to appetite, but in reality the situation is more complex.  For example, techniques such as genetic manipulation may be advocated but which, in some regions, are generally regarded as being unacceptable at the present time.  High stocking densities and extreme stock sizes are also perceived by many to be at the expense of the welfare of individual animal. 

Ethical conflicts can even occur between societies with different perspectives of animal welfare.  These may arise from differing ethical standards, which are ultimately rooted in tradition, religious beliefs or in the urgency of a society’s need for food.