Agricultural News
Communication Guru Tells Pork Producers- Consumers Don't Care About Sound Science Arguments in Animal Well Being Debate
Mon, 28 Mar 2011 6:51:10 CDT
Dr. Wes Jamison believes that animal agriculture has made some basic mistakes in dealing with groups that are "anti animal agriculture" and want to see livestock production in this country rolled back to the way it was fifty years ago- or eliminated altogther. Jamison says that farmers and ranchers have assumed that consumers want to hear their story- and he contends that the anti- animal agriculture crowd have figured out consumers don't want to hear the story that farmers are telling- and are offering connections to the consumer that they are interested in.
Jamison told those gathered last week at the Oklahoma Pork Congress that agriculture has made the mistake of thinking that they can go out, hire a PR agency and use "sound science" and facts to communicate to today's consumer. Meanwhile, the groups that oppose animal agriculture use several tactics that portray today's livestock production as basically evil and needing to be reformed. He adds that a key strategy of anti animal Ag groups- moralize the issue & marginalize economics & science.
Jamison says that anti animal agriculture groups want to emphasize the human-animal bond- and they consumers to be equating a dog or cat to a cow or pig. He says that these groups are well funded, sophisticted and are relentless in their pursuit to do harm to livestock production. A message that has been used at the extreme is "if your cat tasted like chicken- would you eat her?"
He says that animal agriculture has to get to the point where all species work together to tell consumers we are raising animals on the farm or ranch for the benefit of humans. And he added that one of the messages we need to communicate to consumers is that a dog does not equal a pig in this world- and that it's okay for them to have different feelings for their pets versus those animals that provide protein for people.
You can can listen to our full conversation with Wes Jamison by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below the video box.
Jamsion ended his presentation with a You Tube video that turns the tables on those who are staunch vegans- click on the PLAY arrow in the video box below to see this "mini-comedy" from Britain that points out hypocrisy can go both ways. Attendees at the Oklahoma Pork Congress roared with laughter.
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