Dr. Temple Grandin is a world-renowned expert in the fields of animal behavior and breeding, an activist, and an advocate for the rights of people, especially those with autism. Her contribution to animal husbandry is also difficult to underestimate, as she has devoted a great value of time to analyzing behavior, assessing the potential, and developing improvements in animal welfare. As a person with autism, she has provided others the opportunity to appreciate her unique perspective and understanding of animal issues in the context of food industry development.
Animal Agriculture Industry Improvement
Dr. Grandin’s perspective contributed to developing and improving ideas for interacting with animals in food industry processes. The first was the design of animal handling systems that were more humane to minimize stress levels. Examples of such improvements include softening corners in animal movement areas and additional efforts to provide noise suppression. Such innovations have helped to reduce fear and stress levels in animals and have thus been widely adopted (Grandin, 2022). Thus, animal welfare standards were improved throughout the breeding industry.
An equally important detail was Grandin’s personal fight for the welfare of animals: regardless of the final stage of their life cycle, the doctor advocated humane treatment. Through her struggle and activities, public awareness of the importance of animal welfare was raised (Wesling, 2019). Grandin’s interventions in the development of guidelines for the treatment of animals and standards for the operation of the industry have had no less of an impact.
In addition to the above, Dr. Grandin has been involved in advising many professionals in the animal breeding industry. Her expertise in pet behavior has been indispensable in the industry’s pre-service and in-service training programs. Moreover, passing on such experience and broadcasting her own vision has helped to increase the level of humanity toward animals among the staff of the respective farms. Equally influential has been its promotion of sustainability, which has been made possible by its out-of-the-box approach.
Accomplishing the Animal Agriculture and Personal Life
The implementation of humane and anti-stress treatment of livestock improved animal welfare and contributed to the development of more humane methods for meat packing plants and slaughterhouses. Grandin’s projects were implemented in the United States and other countries (Grandin, 2021). In doing so, she championed animal welfare and was the recipient of numerous awards for her contributions to the field of animal breeding. However, her initial difficulties in the scientific field were similar to those in her personal life.
Grandin overcame significant challenges due to her possession of autism in early childhood. Along with being diagnosed with a communication and social interaction disorder, she was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (Vanzo et al., 2020). However, the future Ph.D. was able to find her purpose in interacting with animals and continued her zootechnical education in college. Given the social and political peculiarities of her growing up and education, she faced a significant level of discrimination and distrust of her abilities (Wesling, 2019). Nevertheless, this did not prevent her from obtaining her doctorate and developing her scientific vision later in life.
Grandin became a leading proponent of awareness and acceptance of autism spectrum disorders as one of its earliest maximally open and prominent representatives. She received non-recurring recognition of her own accomplishments in the format of awards for her written speeches and advocacy (Grandin, 2022). Thus, Grandin has accomplished much not only in her professional life but likewise in her personal life, doing what interests her and being part of her family in her asociality.
Life Influence: Animal Agriculture and Food Industry Accomplishments
Dr. Grandin has an impact on everyday life in the format of expanding and revising each person’s own relationship to autistic thinking. Her explanation of the visual thinking approach fundamentally differs from the verbal types of thinking conditioned by most standard people. Her unique perspective on animal behavior and worldview have contributed to improved attitudes toward animals in the food industry. In addition, three ways or methods in which Grandin influenced the food industry and promoted a change in the livestock industry can be identified as mimics. These include improving animal standards, leading by example, and educating the public. The systems developed for the treatment of animals were adopted largely because of Grandin’s specific thinking, which she identifies as animalist thinking (Wesling, 2019). Grandin’s own story, which, given her diagnosed trait of unconventionality, has accomplished much, is inspiring to many people and promotes change to this day. With her work, the food and animal breeding industry has become much more transparent and humane.
Conclusion
Dr. Grandin’s life and her story are a cause for inspiration and contribute to broadening the views of anyone who embraces and attempts to become aware of their own worldview possibilities. The many challenges of being a person with autism that have not prevented her from becoming a person with autism make one feel a sense of respect. Her unique vision of the person and the formation of her own ideas and thoughts have contributed valuable insights to society. Moreover, Dr. Grandin’s story highlights the ability of people with autism spectrum disorders to lead fulfilling and successful lives and highlights the strengths of people with autism.
References
Grandin, T. (2021). Cattle and pigs are easy to move and handle will have less preslaughter stress. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 10(11), 2583. Web.
Grandin, T. (2022). Genetics and the behavior of Domestic Animals. Academic Press.
Vanzo, R., Prasad, A., Staunch, L., Hensel, C., Serrano, M., Wassman, E., Kaplun, A., Grandin, T., & Boles, R. (2020). The Temple Grandin genome: Comprehensive analysis in a scientist with high-functioning autism. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(1), 21. Web.
Wesling, D. (2019). Animalist thinking from Lucretius to Temple Grandin. In Animal Perception and Literary Language (pp. 131–212). Springer International Publishing. Web.