10.5680/MCPB019
Veissier, Isabelle
Isabelle
Veissier
Deiss, Véronique
Véronique
Deiss
Herskin, Mette
Mette
Herskin
Kennedy, Emer
Emer
Kennedy
Rutherford, Kenny
Kenny
Rutherford
Ethics in experiments on live cattle: a pragmatic approach
PUBLISSO
2021
ScholarlyArticle
636 Animal Husbandry
Ruminants, Bovine, Cattle
2021-01-29
en
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
There are ongoing philosophical, moral, and societal debates about experiments on live animals. Along with a consequentialist approach, it may be considered that an action – here an experiment on live animals – is morally acceptable if the knowledge it aims to produce can result in an overall benefit. In other words, it is acceptable if the constraints imposed on the animals involved are outweighed by the larger benefits expected for others (humans or animals). Alternatively, it can be argued that because animals are sentient beings, they have a right not to be used by others. There may also be points of view in between, considering that animal experimentation is acceptable on the condition that no alternative ways to gain the relevant knowledge are possible and animal suffering is limited as much as possible. What is considered as an important knowledge that justifies experimentation may differ as it refers to individual values. It is not the intention of this chapter to hold a moral debate about animal experimentation. Rather, we take a pragmatic approach that we hope will guide experimenters in their decision to undertake an experiment (or not), after having made explicit all arguments for or against that experiment.
Chapter of the Living Handbook Methods in cattle physiology and behaviour – Recommendations from the SmartCow consortium
Horizon 2020
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100007601