From my lifetime association with agriculture, I disagree. The farmers I know put the animal first and try to keep their livestock free from pain, stress and disease – not just for economic reasons, but because it’s the right thing to do. They protect the land because they depend on it for their business – and because they live on it.

There is a connection between the farmer and the land that isn’t accounted for in arguments against good education. And a partnership between agriculture and the land-grant university that is less understood.

Our faculty and scientists are the ones who discover and demonstrate how to raise livestock more humanely. We modify animal diets to reduce potential pollutants in manure and devise production systems to safely handle waste and reduce odor.

Purdue University animal science graduates are trained to operate livestock farms that don’t hurt the environment and produce safe, nutritious meat and dairy products. In reality, we don’t need to teach less animal science. We need to teach more.

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