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The Ethics of Animal Labor pp 1–22Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

What Is Animal Husbandry?

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Abstract

In this chapter, I identify the fundamental differences between animal husbandry and the industrial livestock industry. First, I recount my own discovery of husbandry in a semi-rural setting, and how it led me to understand that the animal produce I had previously bought without giving a thought to was the result of living work. They were the result of work demanding effort, deep ties to animals, intelligence and a common will to work together. I go on to describe my introduction to the livestock industry, and the shock that its violence and senselessness caused me. I explain how in the nineteenth century, animal husbandry moved to livestock production and how zootechnics theorized husbandry into a position of being purely instrumental and industrial, and removed from our ties with animals everything that gave them beauty and richness. As opposed to zootechnical theory, I show that husbandry is a positive dynamic in our work relations with animals, which are built on gift relations, even though the relation between humans and animals is asymmetric.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    I only passed a BPA (Brevet Professionnel Agricole—diploma in professional farming) in order to contribute to the MSA (Mutualiste Sociale Agricole, or national insurance for farmers).

  2. 2.

    Translator’s note: Centre de Formation Professionnelle et de Promotion Agricole (Centre for Agricultural Professional Training in, and Promotion of, Agriculture).

  3. 3.

    Translator’s note: brevet de technicien agricole (tertiary diploma in agriculture).

  4. 4.

    Translators note: vulgar expletives, the equivalent of “asshole”, or “fucker”.

  5. 5.

    Translator’s note: Brevet de technicien supérieur (advanced technician certificate).

  6. 6.

    On the subject of zootechnical theory and industrialization, read Porcher J., 2010. “Cochons d’or. L’industrie porcine en questions” (Golden pigs, the swine industry in questions) Editions Quae, pp. 175–191.

  7. 7.

    Translated back into English from the French version.

  8. 8.

    Translator’s note: school pupil.

  9. 9.

    Translator’s note: the traditional Christmas Eve dinner.

  10. 10.

    Translator’s note: as above, in the Breton language.

  11. 11.

    Translator’s note: companion animal. Both terms translate into English as “pet”.

  12. 12.

    Translator’s note: Société protectrice des animaux (the society for the protection of animals).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Campus SupAgro, INRA, UMR 0951 Innovation Campus SupAgro, Montpellier Cedex 2, France

    Jocelyne Porcher

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  1. Jocelyne Porcher
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Additional information

Animal husbandry is one of a number of possible translations of the French word élevage: these include “the livestock industry”, “livestock production”, “livestock sector” and very often the term “livestock” which denotes both farm animals (animals élevage) and élevage itself in its productive relationship with animals. The terms “livestock industry” and “livestock production” suggest what I would call “production animals”, or intensive, industrialized farming. Another translation is “breeding”, which emphasizes the reproduction of animals, but it seems to me that “ animal husbandry” carries the sense that I give to “élevage”, as it puts the relationship with animals, the notion of responsibility, the connotation of care, and its historical character to the forefront. The root “husband” suggests to me the French idea of the “bon père de famille” (good family man), that is, of responsible and sustainable management.

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Porcher, J. (2017). What Is Animal Husbandry?. In: The Ethics of Animal Labor. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49070-0_1

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