By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI – Capital Press

Market pressures, more so than laws and regulations, are likely to end the use of controversial practices in livestock production, according to an animal behaviorist……

“The retailers have enormous impact on this,” Mench said, noting that these companies want to protect their business by being perceived as socially responsible.

Animal welfare issues generally migrate to the U.S. about a decade after first arising in Europe, she said. While the U.S. is market-oriented, the European Union is more geared toward legal restrictions on livestock practices.

Current controversies in Europe over pain relief during castration and de-horning can be expected to eventually make their way to the U.S., Mench said. Transportation and slaughter practices will also probably attract more public scrutiny.  READ MORE