Animal welfare is a term that is increasingly used in livestock production conversations.  Sometimes it may seem that we most often hear about animal welfare in a negative sense, as when a story breaks about livestock abuse. What does the term animal welfare mean within the context of normal, everyday livestock production?  The Ohio Heartland Sheep Improvement Association (OHSIA) invites livestock producers to attend their September 15 meeting when OSU Extension Animal Welfare specialist Monique Pairis-Garcia will be talking about animal welfare and livestock production.  The meeting will be held at Local Roots Market and Restaurant in the meeting room at the back of the building.  Local Roots is located at 140 S. Walnut Street in Wooster.  The meeting will start at 7:00 pm.

Dr. Pairis-Garcia’s background combines her experience as a veterinarian with animal welfare research.  Her approach to animal welfare is science based and she defines animal welfare as being about improving the production and livelihood of the animal while under the care of the livestock owner or manager.  Dr. Pairis-Garcia will discuss animal welfare, current animal welfare expectations and regulations, how to do an animal welfare assessment on your farm and what the future may hold in regard to animal welfare and livestock production.