Version 1
: Received: 2 April 2024 / Approved: 2 April 2024 / Online: 3 April 2024 (13:12:02 CEST)
How to cite:
Valverde, A.; González, J.A.; Sevilla, F.; Mora, S.; Roldan, E.R.; Vargas, C.; González, R. Perceptions of Animal Welfare on Livestock: Evidence from College Agronomy Students in Costa Rica. Preprints2024, 2024040228. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.0228.v1
Valverde, A.; González, J.A.; Sevilla, F.; Mora, S.; Roldan, E.R.; Vargas, C.; González, R. Perceptions of Animal Welfare on Livestock: Evidence from College Agronomy Students in Costa Rica. Preprints 2024, 2024040228. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.0228.v1
Valverde, A.; González, J.A.; Sevilla, F.; Mora, S.; Roldan, E.R.; Vargas, C.; González, R. Perceptions of Animal Welfare on Livestock: Evidence from College Agronomy Students in Costa Rica. Preprints2024, 2024040228. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.0228.v1
APA Style
Valverde, A., González, J.A., Sevilla, F., Mora, S., Roldan, E.R., Vargas, C., & González, R. (2024). Perceptions of Animal Welfare on Livestock: Evidence from College Agronomy Students in Costa Rica. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.0228.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Valverde, A., Celso Vargas and Rodolfo González. 2024 "Perceptions of Animal Welfare on Livestock: Evidence from College Agronomy Students in Costa Rica" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.0228.v1
Abstract
Ethical considerations regarding our treatment of animals have gained strength, leading to legislation and a societal focus across various disciplines. This is a subject of study within curricula related to agri-food sciences. The aim was to determine the perceptions of agronomy university students concerning animal welfare in livestock production systems. A survey was conducted to encompass various aspects, from participants' sociodemographic attributes to their attitudes and behaviors regarding animal welfare and the consumption of animal products. Statistical analysis, performed using R software, delved into the associations between participants' characteristics and their perspectives on the ethical, bioethical, and legal dimensions of animal welfare. Associations between demographic factors and ethical viewpoints among students were identified. Gender differences emerged in animal treatment perceptions, while rural and urban environments impacted perspectives on various animals. Bioethical considerations revealed distinctive disparities based on gender and education in concerns for animal welfare, value perceptions, evaluations of animal behaviors, and opinions on animal research. It is crucial to distinguish between animal welfare and ethical considerations arising from coexisting with sentient beings capable of experiencing suffering. Ethical theories provide a lens through which we perceive our obligations toward animals. The responsibility to ensure animal welfare is firmly rooted in recognizing that animals, like humans, experience pain and physical suffering. Consequently, actions causing unjustified suffering or mistreatment, particularly for entertainment purposes, are considered morally unacceptable.
Keywords
animal sciences; undergraduate students; animal ethics; bio law; bioethics
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Zoology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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