ABSTRACT
While different sectors of society debate what constitutes good animal welfare, what really matters in this argument is the experience of the individual animal. Humans have the capacity to evaluate the physiology, behavior, and mental activity of animals, but we cannot truly understand what it is like to be that animal because we are equipped with different morphology and physiology, thus limiting our capacity to understand their perspective. In the livestock industry, welfare may be defined as the physical and mental health of the animal as expressed through biological functioning and behavior. This requires the producer and members of society to think about welfare from the perspective of the animal since it is the animal’s perception and subsequent interactions with the environment that impact its health and well-being. Many of the biotechnologies developed for cattle have the capacity to enhance productivity and profitability in both the beef and dairy industries.
