Forgotten Farmed Animals

This book provides insight into the welfare and ethical challenges around the lesser-known intensively farmed animals including fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects and other invertebrate animals. Current research suggests that many non-mammal vertebrate and invertebrate animals are sentient, and yet some are confined and manipulated in ways contrary to their natural behaviours and environmental requirements. As human populations grow, these animals have become increasingly vulnerable to commercial production demands.

Current evidence of sentience will be presented for each class (i.e. reptiles, fish, amphibians, molluscs, crustaceans and insects), followed by case studies of representative species’ confinement and treatment in twenty-first century intensive animal agriculture systems. Sentience as it relates to these forgotten farmed animals is defined as an animal's capacity to have feelings of pain, pleasure, comfort, discomfort, boredom, excitement, contentment, frustration, anxiety and joy.

Reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects and other invertebrate animals have elicited less scientific research compared to mammals and birds, thus affecting perceptions of their capacity to experience pain and suffering and with a flow-on effect to their welfare and ethical treatment. However, absence of consolidated research evidence need not equate to absence of sentience and in fact, reinforces the need to investigate and protect their welfare.
Forgotten Farmed Animals provides an in-depth critical analysis of humanity’s relentless encroachment into the lives of animals, and serves as a timely reminder of the long-term ethical and welfare implications for animals, humans and the environment.