Some topics which will be discussed are; the recent castration ban in Norway; what are the implications to the pig and to the US pork producer?  Are animal welfare codes of practice and recommendations sufficient to protect the welfare interests of farm animals or is legislation necessary?  The horse slaughter act; should horses have different rights or considerations than pigs or cattle? Organic versus intensive indoor farming; what does organic farming mean and what are the implications to the animals, producer and consumers?  Long distance transport; how long is too long?  Gestation housing of sows; is group housing the answer?

Horse Slaughter- Illinois Law Banning Horse Slaughter Upheld

"The nation's last horse slaughtering plant could be forced to permanently close after a federal appeals court Friday upheld an Illinois law prohibiting the slaughter of horses for human consumption."..."At Cavel International Inc.'s plant, located in the northern Illinois town of DeKalb, about 40,000 to 60,000 horses are slaughtered each year. Except for a portion sold to U.S. zoos, the meat is shipped to be eaten by diners overseas."- TARA BURGHART, Associated Press Writer Sept. 2007

Sow Gestation Crates-

"There has been a backlash against placing pregnant sows in the gestation crates. Some food processors and fast food chains have pledged not to purchase meat from producers who use them, and some chefs said they would only use crate-free pork. The European Union has decided to phase out the crates by 2013, while voters in Florida and Arizona have approved ballot initiatives to ban them over the next few years."- AMY LORENTZEN, Associated Press Writer May 2007

Class Syllabus

Breeze Class Page

Introductory Video

"horse" photo from nctime com; "dog" photo from aerosols used edu