Recently while visiting a friend’s house I picked up a magazine including no advertisements. This issue happened to be devoted to animal rights.

As I read through the articles the realization hit that many see animal production in a much different light and while this is obvious to some, to others it is not.

Many who see it in a different light also misunderstand numerous parts of production agriculture.

What is the importance of animal rights or ethics? Does it really affect our lives as food consumers?

As a child, my dad would tease me about my soft heart for animals. Many a stray dog, cat or wild bunny were saved by my cautious and unskilled care. I have always enjoyed animals, as does my father; however, my heart seemed to always be with those who were mistreated.

While most kids enjoyed movies like Disney’s “Milo and Otis” or “Lassie,” I refused to watch them because it would make me cry.

As I grew up I began to learn about swine and cattle production. At times it was hard to accept the truth about what really happened to all of my 4-H steers. However, I have always had the understanding that while it is wrong to mistreat animals, production of meat animals is important to our day-to-day life.

As a producer you must walk the line between stewardship and economics. There are many farmers out there who do not take into consideration the importance of proper care; this does not mean that every farmer is guilty of this.

I can remember a time when my family was working cattle. By working I mean vaccinating, dehorning, etc. We were working and all the while a group of people who were against inhumane treatment of animals were lining up along our road to watch us and make sure we weren’t mistreating the stock.

They felt that dehorning was unnecessary and inhumane. What they didn’t realize is that if we didn’t do this the cattle would use their horns to harm each other and could theoretically kill each other with them.

Allowing them to have horns is more inhumane than taking them off. This is the same token with clipping needle teeth and tails on baby pigs. If a producer didn’t do this the little piglets would literally chew on each other and become cannibalistic.

Sometimes people don’t realize the importance of these livestock management techniques. On the other side some producers abuse their stock in a way that deviates completely from the point of production agriculture.

A good producer doesn’t want to just make money, they also enjoy working with the stock. When a producer enjoys working with those animals, he or she takes good care of them.

This viewpoint is considered utilitarianism. The utilitarian view is that animal cruelty is wrong, but the importance of feeding people is important as well.

As a fellow animal lover I can appreciate the misunderstandings surrounding animal production. However, as a cattle producer’s daughter, I also see the importance of livestock production to the consumer’s needs.

As I get older I realize the importance of the careful balance between stewardship and economics. Many times I have seen producers struggle with this as well, but a good producer always wants what is best for his or her stock.

Allowing others to influence your opinion based on incorrect information is a terrible way to form very damaging misconceptions.

Danelle Zellmer

is a junior in public service and administration in

agriculture from Atlantic.