The objective of this study was to determine whether or not the AVMA’s position on certain animal farming practices are consistent with the majority of veterinarians in the United States.

The findings of this survey were broken down into several major areas. Confinement Practices:

• An estimated 82% of veterinary respondents object to confinement practices such as crates, tethers, battery cages and gestation crates.
• Questions regarding these practices have the lowest overall “no opinion” or “need more information” responses, suggesting that veterinarians have relatively well-formed opinions in this area.

Feeding Practices:

• On average, 79% of respondents objected to the use of deficient diets or withholding food for veal calves and egg-laying hens.

Tail Docking of Pigs and Cows:

• 70% objected to the practice of tail-docking without anesthesia, but of all practices discussed in the survey, this was considered the most acceptable (by 19% of respondents).
• Veterinarians objected significantly more to the practice of tail-docking of cows (75%) compared with pigs (65%). With respect to pigs, tail-docking was considered to be acceptable by 23% of respondents.

Downed Animals:

• 73% of veterinarians believe that the transporting, marketing and slaughtering of downed animals for human consumption is objectionable.