Animal Welfare Research Presents Abundant Paths to Win-Win Solutions
Legendary Researcher Cites Multiple, Recent Research Trials

March 22, 2006 - ''There are abundant paths for animal welfare research to result in win-win solutions,'' declared Stanley Curtis, PhD, legendary researcher from the University of Illinois at the Animal Agriculture Alliance's Fifth Annual Stakeholders Summit in Arlington, Virginia, on March 21. Curtis cited multiple current research trials on topics ranging from sow housing to floor space for broiler chickens to tail docking in dairy cows that showed how animal welfare research can benefit animals and farmers at the same time.

Curtis defined his introductory theme by presenting the performance axiom, which states that for a healthy animal, due to the continuing absence of any scientifically informed understanding of its feeling, the best single set of measurable indicators of the animal's state of being will be its rates of productive and reproductive performance relative to its predicted potential to perform. Curtis also criticized some research being conducted due to its overemphasis on behavioral and physiological indicators that ''are difficult to impossible to measure, interpret, or both, in terms of the amount of any associated suffering the animals might be experiencing.''

In contrast, he highlighted two research trials; one trial in broiler chickens that showed growth rate was a better indicator of crowding stress than adaptive physiological traits, and another trial in dairy cows that showed milk yield for tail-docked cows to be in the same range as other cows.

Curtis emphasized that the return to every dollar spent on agricultural research is realistically estimated at 30 to 50 cents per year after the new technology has been adopted by farmers, ranchers and processors. After this two- to three-year payback, the research will continue to reap dividends for many years. Though retired, Curtis emphasized until a few years ago, many animal welfare scientists had nothing but shoestring budget and urged American companies to increase their budgets in this area.

''Dr. Curtis' findings that animal welfare research is a win-win situation benefiting animals and others in the food chain are welcome results,'' said Kay Johnson, Executive Vice-President of the Animal Agriculture Alliance (Alliance). ''Animal welfare is and always has been a natural component of any well managed farm or ranch. It has always been in the best interests of America's farmers and ranchers to adopt the best methods to improve their animal's health and welfare and that will not change.''

The Fifth Annual Stakeholders Summit was held March 20-22, 2006 at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. It included over 150 high level representatives of animal agriculture from around the globe. Sponsors of the Stakeholders Summit include ADM Animal Nutrition, Food Systems 360° (a division of Vance Publishing), Rabobank International, the American Veal Association, Watt Agribusiness Media, the United Soybean Board, Animal Health Institute, American Feed Industry Association, Brakke Consulting, Monsanto Corporation, National Pork Board, United Egg Producers, Law Enforcement Academic Research Network (LEARN), Feedstuffs magazine and Poultry Times magazine.

The Animal Agriculture Alliance is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The Alliance's mission is to communicate the important role of animal agriculture to our nation's economy, productivity, vitality, security and that animal well-being is central to producing safe, high-quality, affordable food and other products essential to our daily lives.

Note to all press: For more information on, photos of, or proceedings from the Stakeholders Summit, please contact Philip Lobo at jplobo@animalagalliance.org or telephone (703) 562-5160.