The Criteria for Ethologically and Ecologically Raised Beef

Abstract

The problems of beef production, including concerns about animal welfare, undesirable environmental effects, inability to be economically viable without subsidies from the public purse, and, recently, in the light of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (B.S.E.) crisis, possible concern for public health, are discussed. The criteria for improved animal welfare, including reduced behavioural restriction, are examined in order to work towards developing ‘ethologically sound’ environments. The criteria for assessing the ecological effect of the beef producing enterprise are also outlined. One possible way of reducing environmental and animal welfare problems is the production of suckled beef on ecological farms if this can be economic.