Perceptions of ethical practices in youth livestock shows

This study was designed to evaluate the perceptions of 4-H and FFA youth and their parents of the ethical nature of practices used in livestock shows. A questionnaire was designed to determine the ethical perceptions of 23 commonly used livestock practices. A purposeful population consisted of 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. A total of 109 youth and 67 adults were included in the survey. Overall the population perceived the 23 practices unethical. This study found significant differences existed between whether or not participants attended an ethics training course, gender and age. Participants that attended and ethics training course found more practices to be unethical compared to participants that did not attend an ethics training course.