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Luc Mirabito presents Poster 86 during the poster sessions in the Aula.
Session theme 7: Stakeholders' views on animal welfare
158
Poster 86
CONSUMERS AND CATTLE FARMERS FACE THE ISSUE OF ANIMAL
WELFARE
A.C. Dockès, L. Mirabito 1 , F. Kling
Institut de l’Elevage, 149 rue de Bercy, 75595 Paris Cx 12, France
The animal welfare issue is becoming increasingly central to the debates between the agricultural
world and the global society as well as the regulations (at the national or EU level). Some of the
main issues are, for example, to build relevant tools to assess the level of animal welfare on farms
and to know whether it is more important to improve animal welfare on every farm, or to develop
quality schemes with welfare specifications. To tackle these issues several research projects are
being carried out, such as Welfare Quality®. They study the views of farmers, consumers and
scientists.
In this paper we compare the perceptions and views of French cattle farmers (dairy, beef and veal
farmers) and consumers based on the results of face-to-face and group interviews, analysed by the
content analysis method. We also use results from sample surveys conducted by the European
commission or at a national level.
Farmers and consumers often come to the same conclusion. They agree that the central role of the
farmer is to guarantee the welfare of his animals. He must look after them and provide them with
satisfactory living conditions. Both groups agree that regulations are necessary to prevent
mistreatment and that quality schemes exclusively based on animal welfare specifications are
unnecessary.
Cattle farmers feel that animal welfare is the natural result of “normal” farming practices. In
contrast consumers think that animal welfare is implicitly a part of the quality of the products. They
focus on the quality of the animal feeding, the absence of tethering and the necessity for the young
calf to be with its mother. Farmers don’t emphasize these aspects.
Improving the communication between farmers and consumers should improve mutual knowledge,
understanding and acceptance. Both groups frequently express the need for better communication.
Current experiments should help to improve this dialogue.
Contact information: Charlotte Dockès or email anne-charlotte.dockes@inst-elevage.asso.fr
Complete address: Institut de l’Elevage, 149 rue de Bercy, 75595 Paris Cx 12, France
Species: Beef cattle