ABSTRACT
The decades-long intensification of animal agriculture has led to a variety of concerns about the impacts of production practices on animal welfare, resulting in legislative and/or nonlegislative efforts in many developed countries to regulate or intensify oversight of production practices. In reality, although much of the focus has been on intensive agriculture, animal welfare problems can arise in any production system, whether intensive or extensive—and conversely, both types of systems can have benefits for animal welfare. These topics are explored in the context of how the public’s views of animals shape the dialogue and the relationship between animal welfare and the overall sustainability of animal production globally.
