For what it's worth

In this lesson, students will consider the effects of selective breeding and different production/management systems on farm animals and the resulting ethical and moral implications. This lesson could be followed by Animal engineering.

Curriculum objectives

Students should learn:

• to examine closely the animal welfare issues involved when humans selectively breed animals, in particular, farm animals
• to understand the reasons why humans selectively breed animals
• to consider how selectively breeding farm animals can raise ethical and moral issues.

Animal welfare objectives

Students should learn:

• to understand that humans have selectively bred farm animals for a long time, for the benefit of humans
• to understand that selective breeding and keeping animals in environments that fail to meet their physical and behavioural needs can result in animal welfare issues
• to understand that, as a consumer, humans may be able to make a difference to farm animals' lives
• to consider the ethical and moral implications of selectively breeding farm animals and the benefits of keeping animals in higher welfare systems.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this lesson:

• most students: understand that some farm animals have been selectively bred by humans and can be kept in environments that fail to meet their physical and behavioural needs, which can lead to animal welfare issues, and understand the benefits of using higher-welfare-production/management systems
• some students have not made so much progress and: are able to state the animal characteristics that have been selectively bred by humans, and describe some of the environments within which animals are kept
• some students have progressed further and: can understand how they can make a difference to the welfare of farm animals.