Animal welfare has remained a key issue for the Animal Agriculture Alliance since its founding in 1987 because of frequent efforts by animal-rights organizations to spread myths and misinformation about this important topic. Those involved in the animal agriculture community know firsthand that animal care is the No. 1 priority of farm families. By contrast, the No. 1 priority of animal-rights activist organizations is to eliminate animal protein from our diets. These organizations often work to harm the reputation of America’s farm families by misleading and misinforming consumers. Their goal is to make eating meat unaffordable as well as socially unacceptable while raising funds to further their cause.
It’s important to note the very real difference between “animal welfare” and “animal rights.” The American Veterinary Medical Association says animal welfare refers to “how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives.” An animal is considered to be in a good state of welfare if – as indicated by scientific evidence – “it is healthy, comfortable, well-nourished, safe, able to express innate behavior, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress. On the other hand, animal rights is the concept of treating animals as equal to humans. Tracy Reiman with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) put it very plainly, stating, “We are opposed to any exploitation of animals. Not just bigger cages, no cages. Not just less domination but no dominating. Not just making sure they are anesthetized before being killed for a shoe or a steak but not being killed for either.”