ABSTRACT
The four articles comprising the special issue of the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (JAAWS) originally were presented at the conference “Food Animal Husbandry and the New Millennium: Ethical, Environmental, and Societal Impacts,” organized jointly by the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society, and the Center for Animal Health and Productivity at the University of Pennsylvania. Two of the articles explore specific animal welfare concerns associated with modern farming methods. The other two address the theme of changing public perceptions of animal agriculture in general. In the absence of economic incentives, one can question the ability of corporate farming interests to take a long-term, sustainable view that would include substantial improvements in the welfare of food animals. The articles highlight pressing animal welfare challenges found in several food animal industries and propose conceptual approaches around which to initiate a constructive discussion on food animal husbandry and the new millennium.
