James Kirkwood (BVSc PhD FIBiol MRCVS) graduated from Bristol University Veterinary School in 1975. He is Chief Executive and Scientific Director of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) and of the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA); Visiting Professor in the Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases at the Royal Veterinary College; and Editor of the quarterly scientific journal Animal Welfare.
For 12 years, prior to taking up his present posts in 1996, he was head of the Veterinary Science Department at the Zoological Society of London. He is Chairman of the Zoos Forum, Deputy Chairman of the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) and Chair of the CAWC working group on breeding and welfare in companion animals.
He has published some 150 papers in the scientific literature on aspects of the biology, diseases, conservation and welfare of animals.
The welfare consequences of selective breeding in companion animals
James K. Kirkwood
Companion Animal Welfare Council (www.cawc.org.uk) and Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, The Old School, Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire AL4 8AN, UK.
There has been rapid growth in the number of species kept as companion animals and, in the UK, this exceeds 1000 vertebrates species alone. Many hundreds of these species are bred for this purpose. In some of these there has been selection for specific traits, or suites of traits, for countless generations (eg dog, cat, rabbit, pigeon, goldfish) and breeds have been produced that differ markedly in appearance from their wild ancestors.
Many problems with adverse welfare consequences are known to have arisen in association with selection for specific traits or suites of traits (CAWC, 2006). These include, to give a few examples: predisposition to intervertebral disc disease in dachshunds, syringomyelia in Cavalier King Charles spaniels, glaucoma in Siamese cats, predisposition to vitamin A deficiency in white canaries, and complications to health associated with long fur in rabbits. These and many other problems that have a genetic basis can seriously compromise welfare.
Welfare problems associated with genetic changes to the phenotypes of animals can be particularly serious in that: (i) they can affect large numbers of animals, (ii) they have the potential to continue to do so generation after generation into the future, (iii) they can have a severe adverse impact on animals’ feelings (eg through pain or increased fearfulness) and, (iv) these effects can be of long duration – potentially affecting the animal for a large part of, or throughout, its life.
In contrast to society’s apparent concern for strict animal welfare regulation in some circumstances, for example in the use of animals in scientific procedures, it seems that an almost unquestioning acceptance continues to prevail regarding the selection and breeding of companion animals for arbitrary traits, despite the great potential for very serious welfare consequences.
However, efforts are now being made increasingly to address some of the problems that have occurred in some species. These involve screening to identify affected and carrier animals and programmes to control breeding within populations in order to eliminate or reduce the incidence of harmful genetic effects.
CAWC (2006) Breeding and welfare in companion animals. Companion Animal Welfare Council.
www.cawc.org.uk In preparation.
James K. Kirkwood