ABSTRACT
Most ethical evaluations in this area have considered the broader field of biotechnology rather than just genetic engineering. Two particularly systematic evaluations may illustrate this: a workshop on ‘Biotechnology and Animal Welfare’ financed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)71 and a committee set up by the UK government to consider ‘Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies in the Breeding of Farm Animals’ (The Banner Committee).72 The committee listed a number of techniques beyond the scope of the present study – artificial insemination, superovulation and synchronisation of oestrus, embryo transfer, in vitro fertilisation and semen and embryo sexing – as well as cloning and genetic modification. There are two points to make about the drawing of boundaries. First, although we are concerned here with the impact of the relatively new technique of genetic engineering we should not assume that the status quo is an ethically acceptable or neutral ground. Indeed, there is no status quo. Selective breeding continues with most of the animals with which we are concerned, and welfare problems have resulted and continue to result from the increasingly sophisticated methods used. Examples of such welfare issues in farm animals are the physical problems associated with rapid growth in broilers and turkeys, the hunger and frustration of feeding behaviour caused by food restriction of broiler parents and sows and the calving difficulties of double-muscled cattle. The ethics of such ‘traditional’ methods are increasingly called into question. Indeed, ethical questions are also raised about whether animals
should be kept (and in many cases killed) for human use at all, but this issue will not be discussed here.
