Addressing Animal Welfare Issues in Fetal Blood Collection for Fetal Bovine Serum Production
Terence J. McCann, Carol Treasure
Abstract
There is ethical debate over whether fetal calves suffer when their dam is slaughtered and fetal blood extracted by cardiac puncture for fetal bovine serum (FBS) production. Yet, the serum industry does not follow best practice, as recommended by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), to avoid fetal distress. We discuss the key elements of this debate, and recommend how the serum industry can alter its practices to improve animal welfare.
Topics & Concepts
FetusAnimal welfareWelfareFetal distressObstetricsMedicineIntensive care medicinePhysiologyPregnancyBiologyPolitical scienceLawGeneticsEcologyAnimal Behavior and Welfare StudiesHuman-Animal Interaction StudiesXenotransplantation and immune response