ASSESSING STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARD ANIMAL WELFARE, RESOURCE USE, AND FOOD SAFETY

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in a program addressing contemporary issues in animal agriculture had an effect on the students attitudes towards animal welfare, resource use, ' and food safety. The students in this study were participants in the Pennsylvania Governor's School for Agricultural Sciences (PGSAS). Within the five-week PGSAS program, students completed a two-week unit titled “Contemporary Issues in Animal Agriculture. " Three main issues were examined: animal welfare, resource use, and food safety as they relate to animal agriculture. The students ranked food safety as the primary concern with resource use second, and animal welfare third. Scholars with agricultural backgrounds rated specific issues as more beneficial to society than did scholars without agricultural backgrounds. Within the food safety area, both groups identified microbial contamination as the primary issue of concern. With regard to resource use, deforestation was ranked first, and in the animal welfare area, the pre-course issue of greatest concern was providing shelter. Upon completion of the course, within the animal welfare area, animal transportation became a topic of increased concern for both groups. Overall results showed decreased concern after the course by both groups of scholars.