Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Organic Farming, Prototype for Sustainable Agricultures pp 279–293Cite as

Breaking with the Animal Production Paradigm: A Major Issue for Organic Husbandry

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Can organic animal husbandry become a prototype for future animal farming? If so, under what conditions? In this chapter, it is shown that organic farmers are currently finding it difficult to distinguish their practices from those imposed in animal production. This applies mainly to the transport and slaughtering of animals, the choice of breeds or genotypes, the specifications and, more broadly, the utilitarian and economic paradigm underlying organic animal husbandry as reflected in the ambiguous term, “organic animal production”. Apart from issues of conceptual definition, which are indeed crucial, the actual challenges of organic animal husbandry—between “animal welfare” and biotechnologies—are huge. Data are based on the results of numerous interviews with animal farmers and their employees in France, Belgium, Portugal and Quebec, as well as specific studies on 30 organic animal farmers. The archetypal example of an organic pig farmer attests to the lack of support that organic farmers receive and to the solitude in which they have to deal with ethical issues stemming from the collective organisation of work modelled on the “conventional” approach. The sustainability of animal husbandry and the potential added value of organic methods depend on the capacity of organic husbandry to break with the animal production paradigm, to give up its utilitarian approach and to take the meaning of work for farmers and for their animals into account.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    The production of cultured meat in vitro is based on muscle tissue engineering techniques.

  2. 2.

    I would like to thank Ben Mepham, who I first asked to write this paper with me, for his help in clarifying some terms in English.

  3. 3.

    For example, “Good for nature, good for us”, as can be seen on a poster for organic meat. (http://www.produitslaitiersetviandebio.com/).

  4. 4.

    Meat quality is not a concept. There are several qualities of meats that are sometimes conflictual: for consumers (taste, tenderness), for meat transformers (pH, glycogen, etc.), for butchers (average fat content, conformation, etc.).

  5. 5.

    For example, “Douce France”, part of the group, “Gastronome” (annual turnover: M€ 745) itself part of the group, “Terrena” (annual turnover: € 3.9 billion).

  6. 6.

    Cul noir du Limousin (136 sows), Pie noir du Pays Basque (448), Bayeux (229), Gascon (871), Blanc de l’Ouest (115), Corse (150).

  7. 7.

    Ecocert. “Le guide pratique d’élevage porcin”.

  8. 8.

    Ecocert. Guide pratique, abattoirs, ateliers de découpe et boucheries. ID SC190, 23/11/2010.

  9. 9.

    Except pigs for family consumption.

  10. 10.

    See, for example, the Freedom Food label in the UK that supplies McDonalds. http://www.freedomfood.co.uk/news/2013/04/mcdonalds.

  11. 11.

    See the winners of the Animal Welfare Awards given by the CIWF (Compassion In World Farming). For example: McDonalds, Subway, Sodexo, Marks & Spencer, Coca-Cola, Lesieur, Barilla, etc.

  12. 12.

    See Sorente (2012) for technical details.

  13. 13.

    The term “minerais” (ore) is used in French in animal production supply chains to refer to meat and, thus, to highlight representations of work with animals as an activity consisting of the extraction of animal matter.

  14. 14.

    Eric Simon has just published a handbook on issues related to animal well-being, environmental protection and food safety: Simon 2013. Une vraie vie de cochons, élever des truies en agriculture biologique. Educagri Editions, 90 pages.

  15. 15.

    Association for Assistance to Slaughterhouse Animals ( Œuvre d’Assistance aux Bêtes d’Abattoirs).

  16. 16.

    Protection Mondiale des Animaux de Ferme, affiliated with Compassion In World Farming.

  17. 17.

    The Improvac vaccination (Pfizer) against boar taint will make the problem even more complex. Is Improvac compatible with organic regulations?

References

  • Allen P, Kovach M (2000) The capitalist composition of organic: the potential of markets in fulfilling the promise of organic agriculture. Agric Human Val 17:221–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alroe HF, Vaarst M, Kristensen ES (2001) Does organic farming face distinctive livestock welfare issues? A conceptual analysis. J Agric Environ Ethics 14:275–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Botreau R (2008) Evaluation multicritère du bien-être animal. Exemple des vaches laitières en ferme (Multicriterion evaluation of animal welfare. Example of on-farm dairy cows). Thèse AgroParisTech. Spécialité Productions animales

    Google Scholar 

  • Budiansky S (1992) The covenant of the wild. Why animals chose domestication. Yale University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Caillé A (2009) Théorie anti-utilitariste de l’action. Fragments d’une sociologie générale. (Anti utilitarist theory of action. Fragments of a general sociology). La Découverte/MAUSS

    Google Scholar 

  • Caillé A (1994) Don, intérêt et désintéressement (Gift, interest and disinterest). La Découverte

    Google Scholar 

  • Chartier A, Porcher J (2009) Influence des conditions d’élevage en plein air sur le comportement des truies gestantes. Influence of extensive rearing conditions on the sow’s behaviour) Journées de la Recherche Porcine, 41 http://www.journees-recherche-porcine.com/texte/2009/conduite/pbe03.pdf

  • Dejours C (2009) Travail vivant (living work). Tome 1 et 2. Editions Payot

    Google Scholar 

  • Edelman PD, Mcfarland DC, Mironov VA, Matheny JG (2005) In vitro-cultured meat production. Tissue Eng 11(5/6):659–662

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2006) Livestock long shadow. Environmental issues and options. http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.HTM

  • Farm Animal Welfare Council (2009) Farm animal welfare in Great Britain: past, present and future. http://www.fawc.org.uk/pdf/ppf-report091012.pdf

  • Godbout JT, Caillé A, Winkler D (1998) The world of the gift. Mac Gill-Queen’s University Press, University Press, Montreal

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodland R (1997) Environmental sustainability in agriculture; diet matters. Ecol Econ 23:189–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haraway D (2003) The companion species manifesto: dogs, people and significant otherness. University of Chicago press

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemsworth PH, Coleman GJ, Barnett JL, Borg S, Dowling S (2002) The effects of cognitive behavioral intervention on the attitude and behavior of stockpersons and the behavior and productivity of commercial dairy cows. J Anim Sci 80:68–78

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herman P (2008) Les nouveaux esclaves du capitalisme: agriculture intensive et régression sociale (New slaves of capitalism. Intensive agriculture and social regression). Editions Au Diable Vauvert

    Google Scholar 

  • Holm J, Jokkala T (2008) The livestock industry and climate—EU makes bad worse. Published by the delegation of the Swedish Left Party in GUE/NGL—http://www.meatclimate.org/home

  • Hopkins PD, Dacey A (2008) Vegetarian meat: could technology save animals and satisfy meat eaters? J Agric Environ Ethics 21:579–596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaltoft P (1999) Values about nature in organic farming practice and knowledge. Sociologia Ruralis 39(1):39–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larrère R, Larrère C (2000) Animal rearing as a contract. J Agric Environ Ethics 12:51–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lauvie A (2007) Gérer les populations animales locales à petits effectifs: approche de la diversité des dispositifs mis en œuvre (Managing rare breeds: diversity of actor strategies). Thèse d’Agroparistech. Gestion des ressources génétiques animales. http://pastel.paristech.org/3464/01/th%C3%A8se_LauvieAnne2007.pdf. Accessed 15 June 2007

  • Lund V, Anthony R, Rocklinsberg H (2004) The ethical contract as a tool in organic animal husbandry. J Agric Environ Ethics 17:23–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marx K, Engels F (1975) L’idéologie allemande, Editions sociales

    Google Scholar 

  • Mauss M (1990/1924) The gift (with an introduction by Mary Douglas). Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Mepham B (2006) The ethical matrix as a decision-making tool, with specific reference to animal sentience. In: Turner J, D’Silva J (eds) Animals, ethics and trade: the challenge of animal sentience. Earthscan, London, pp 134–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Mouret S (2012) Élever et tuer des animaux, Paris, Puf, Collection “Partage du savoir”

    Google Scholar 

  • Osteen M (ed) (2002) The question of the gift: essays across disciplines. Routledge

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelletier N, Tyedmers P (2010) Forecasting potential global environmental costs of livestock production 2000–2050. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA. 8–2010

    Google Scholar 

  • Porcher J (2002a) Eleveurs et animaux, réinventer le lien (Animal farmers and animals, reinventing the bond). PUF

    Google Scholar 

  • Porcher J (2002b) L’esprit du don, archaïsme ou modernité de l’élevage: éléments pour une réflexion sur la place des animaux d’élevage dans le lien social (The gift spirit, arcaism or modernity of animal farming? Fragments for a reflection about the rôle of animals in the social bond). Revue du Mauss n°20, Quelle autre mondialisation? Editions La Découverte/MAUSS, pp 245–262, online http://www.cairn.info

  • Porcher J (2003) La mort n’est pas notre métier (Death is not our job). Editions de l’Aube

    Google Scholar 

  • Porcher J (2005) Le “bien-être animal” existe-t-il? (Does animal welfare exist?) Economie rurale n 285:88–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Porcher J (2006) Well-being and suffering in livestock farming: living conditions at work for people and animals. Sociologie du travail 48(1):e56-e70 (August 2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Porcher J (2010a) Cochons d’or. L’industrie porcine en questions (Gold pigs. Questionning pig industry). Editions Quae

    Google Scholar 

  • Porcher J (2010b) Le stade ultime des productions animales: la production de viandes in vitro (the ultimate stage of animal production: in vitro meat). La Revue Parlementaire. no. 1057. Europe: quelle PAC pour 2013? Oct/nov/dec 2010, pp 97–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Porcher J (2011a) The relationship between workers and animals in the pork industry: a shared suffering (2011). J Agric Environ Ethics 24:3–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porcher J (2011b) Vivre avec les animaux, une utopie pour le 21ème siècle (living with animals, a 21st century utopy). Editions La Découverte/MAUSS

    Google Scholar 

  • Porcher J, Daru E (2005) Concevoir des alternatives à l’organisation industrielle du travail. Un camion pour le transport et l’abattage des animaux (Designing alternatives to industrial organization of work. A truck for transport and slaughter of animals in farm). FaçSADe (INRA-SAD), n°2005–23 http://www.inra.fr/sciences_action_developpement/publications/facsade/concevoir_des_alternatives_a_l_organisation_industrielle_du_travail_en_elevage

  • Porcher J, Schmitt T (2012) Dairy cows: workers in the shadows? Soc Anim 20(1):39–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porcher J, Cousson-Gélie F, Dantzer R (2004) Affective components of the human-animal relationship in animal husbandry. Development and validation of a questionnaire. Psychol Reports 2004 95:275–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer P (1975) Animal liberation. A new ethics for our treatment of animals. Random House, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorente I (2012) La viande in vitro, cuisine cellulaire. Le Monde Sciences et Techno. http://www.lemonde.fr/sciences/article/2012/06/21/la-viande-in-vitro-cuisine-cellulaire_1722680_1650684.html. Accessed 21 June 2012

  • Steinfeld H, Gerber P, Wassenaar T, Castel V, Rosales M, de Haan C (2006) Livestock’s long shadow: environmental issues and options. FAO, Rome (Italy). Livestock, Environment and Development Initiative; FAO, Rome (Italy). Animal Production and Health Div., p 390

    Google Scholar 

  • Straus E (2000) Du sens des sens (The meaning of senses). Editions Jérome Millon

    Google Scholar 

  • Terenschenko M (2010) Amartya Sen, Martha Nussbaum et l’idée de justice (Amartya Sen, Martha Nussbaum and the idea of justice). Revue du MAUSS permanente. [http://www.journaldumauss.net/spip.php?article719]. Accessed 14 Oct 2010

  • Tuomisto HL, Teixeira de Mattos MJ (2011) Environmental impacts of cultured meat production. Environ Sci Technol 45(14):6117–6123

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkie RM (2010) Livestock/deadstock. Working with farm animals from birth to slaughter. Temple University Press, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INRA-SupAgro-CIRAD, UMR951 Innovation, Campus SupAgro—2 place Viala, 34060, Montpellier Cedex 2, France

    Jocelyne Porcher

Authors
  1. Jocelyne Porcher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jocelyne Porcher .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Unité Ecodéveloppement, INRA, Avignon Cedex 09, France

    Stéphane Bellon

  2. Unité Ecodéveloppement, INRA, Avignon Cedex 09, France

    Servane Penvern

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Porcher, J. (2014). Breaking with the Animal Production Paradigm: A Major Issue for Organic Husbandry. In: Bellon, S., Penvern, S. (eds) Organic Farming, Prototype for Sustainable Agricultures. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7927-3_15

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation