Animal Husbandry Regained: The Place of Farm Animals in Sustainable Agriculture

"[John Webster] has drawn from his considerable experience and knowledge of animal welfare to present a thought-provoking discussion of future challenges in meeting animal welfare needs ... This book will be worthwhile to a general readership and students, but will likely be of greatest importance to those directly involved in the animal production industries" – G. E. Aiken, Independent scholar, Choice "[John Webster] is someone who has always used his in-depth expertise and forensic analytical skills to build a bigger picture – indeed, a comprehensive and internally consistent worldview. And the three central elements in that worldview (efficiency in the use of resources; humanity in the management of farm animals; sustainability in the stewardship of the living environment) provide the anchor points for the abundance of ‘specific issues’ that John addresses in this text." – Jonathon Porritt, excerpt from the 'Animal Husbandry Regained' foreword "Both challenging and inspiring, Animal Husbandry Regained is surely John Webster’s magnum opus. Here he makes a convincing and lucid case for placing compassion – for people, animals and the environment – at the heart of global food and farming policy and practice." – Joyce D’Silva, Ambassador for Compassion in World Farming, UK "A timely and comprehensive book illustrating the central value of animals to agricultural systems and landscapes. Brim full of authoritative analysis and data that tie together the critical issues of justice, efficiency and sustainability in animal husbandry." – Professor Jules Pretty, University of Essex, UK and author of Agri-Culture (2002) and The Earth Only Endures (2007) "After decades of neglect, the educated public has turned its attention to many problematic aspects of the production of food, particularly food of animal origin. In this scholarly and stimulating book, John Webster treats the reader to the best discussions of animal husbandry, land stewardship, agricultural industrialization and related issues I have ever read, from a seamless perspective of science and ethics." – Bernard E. Rollin, University Distinguished Professor, Professor of Philosophy, of Animal Sciences and of Biomedical Sciences and University Bioethicist, Colorado State University, USA "John Webster belongs to a rare breed now desperately needed in agriculture – a hands-on scientist and vet who is also a broad thinker; versed in moral philosophy and in the philosophy of science; perceiving, therefore, that good husbandry like all human action must be rooted in compassion; that animals of the kind we keep on farms are sentient, conscious beings, demanding respect; and that rigorous science is vital and yet is limited and cannot be the ultimate arbiter of best practice. In this book he summarizes a lifetime of experience and contemplation. Immensely valuable." – Colin Tudge is co-founder of the Campaign for Real Farming, www. campaignforrealfarming.org, and author of Good Food for Everyone Forever