Respect for animal autonomy in bioethical analysis: The case of Automatic Milking Systems (AMS)

An analysis of the ethical impacts of the use of an Automatic Milking Syste m (AMS) is employed as a case study to illustrate the use of a form of bioe thical analysis in technology assessment. The approach is based on the Ethi cal Matrix, where 'impacts' are assessed in terms of (lack of) respect for three ethical principles as applied to interest groups. In this case, only impacts on dairy cows are examined, and principally in terms of their behav ioural freedom. In contrast to traditional milking systems, AMS, in principle, allow cows t o present for milking voluntarily. So with AMS, it is claimed that dairy ma nagement relies on the autonomous interaction of the cow with her environme nt. One of the roles of bioethical analysis is to identify the influence of rhe toric and symbolism in technology assessment, e.g., with respect to the cla imed 'voluntariness' of cows' presentation. The AMS can be installed to all ow cows three types of access, viz., i) free choice ii) rewarded access (RA ) iii) obligatory access (OA). Studies suggest the desire for milk removal per se is not critical in the cow's attendance at the AMS Continued motivat ion to be milked, required for the system to function, principally relies o n RA and OA. Both RA and OA are subject to numerous factors, such as: desig n of the AMS, location, etc. In turn, these can affect the cows' behavioura l freedom and welfare. One of the aims of this approach is to illustrate the ethical basis on whic h public policy is or can be formulated.