Perceptions of Ethical Practices in Youth Livestock Shows
ISSN 2158-9429
Volume 4, Issue 2 - December 2011
Editor: Linda Chalker-Scott
Abstract
Too often youth get caught up in the “winning” and lose track of the “real values” of a 4-H and FFA livestock project. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the perceptions of 4-H and FFA youth and their parents on the ethical nature of practices used in livestock shows. The research design included a survey of a purposefully selected population of 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The study determined the ethical perceptions of youth and parents on 23 commonly used livestock practices. A majority of the youth participants found all practices unethical with the exception of adults sharing preparation of animals with youth and paying above market value for animals. A majority of the parents that participated in the study rated all practices unethical with the exception of restrictive feeding of an animal, using mechanical equipment to teach animals to lead, adults coaching from the sidelines, adults sharing preparation of animals with youth, paying above market value for animals, and youth questioning the livestock judge.
View/Download Full Article