Summary
Researchers analyzed scientific publications and conducted in-depth interviews with animal health scientists, veterinary surgeons, and policy-makers to reveal the scientific logic of routine animal health care and explore the scientific representation of Chronic Animal Disease Management (CADM) in European industrial farming. The research highlights that the science of CADM in industrial farming is influenced by economic interests, primarily driven by the food and pharmaceutical industries, deprioritizing public health. This has resulted in a compartmentalized and narrowly focused approach to animal health care, which contributes to the emergence of zoonotic diseases, including those with pandemic potential. Some strengths of this research lie in its interdisciplinary approach, seamlessly integrating perspectives from veterinary science, social sciences, and public health to provide a comprehensive view of the topic. Although this interdisciplinary approach is a strength, a potential limitation is that a small number of participants represented each area: 11 animal health scientists, four veterinary surgeons, and three policy-makers. Overall, the study emphasizes the need to shift towards a more comprehensive and caring approach to animal health within the framework of One Health to prevent future public health crises and improve overall well-being across species.
This study makes the case for a new scientific logic of routine animal health care in industrial farming in Europe. We argue that the social regime underpinning scientific research and development on chronic animal disease management (CADM) in Europe stifles innovation and sustains a productivist model of animal husbandry that facilitates and maintains chronic animal diseases rather than eliminating them. Drawing on documentary analysis and qualitative interviews, the study explores the science of CADM in the broiler, cattle and pig sectors of the European food industry. Our findings show that in these major sectors, research and development on CADM is largely orientated towards a logic of growth, profitability and control rather than a recognition of the interconnection between chronic animal diseases, the food industry, and people (especially consumers) as advocated by the One Health approach. The study contributes to the literature on medical humanities and science and technology studies within One Health and public health in two ways: First, we draw new focus towards chronic animal diseases that are non-transmissible to humans and argue that while these are not zoonoses, they are equally worthy of attention for managing the emergence of new pathogens and diseases. Second, we expand the conceptualisation of One Health to include chronic animal health conditions. Our argument is that public health as an outcome of the One Health approach should be a term of reference that applies to humans and nonhumans alike whether they be farmed animals, practitioners or consumers.