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Marlene Kirchner presents Poster 87 during the poster sessions in the Aula.
Session theme 7: Stakeholders' views on animal welfare
159
Poster 87
PERCEPTION AND ATTITUDES OF BEEF FARMERS TOWARDS THE
WELFARE QUALITY® ASSESSMENT SYSTEM
M. Kirchner 1 , H. Schulze Westerath 3 , E. Tessitore 2 , G. Cozzi 2 , U. Knierim 3 , C. Winckler 1
1
Division of Livestock Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural
Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna, Austria
2
Dairy and Beef Cattle Nutrition, Management and Welfare, Department of Animal Science, University of
Padova, Italy
3
Department of Farm Animal Behaviour and Husbandry, University of Kassel, Witzenhausen, Germany
The Welfare Quality® system (‘WQ®-system’) aims at assessing farm animal welfare using mainly
animal-based parameters. The information collected may be translated into product information but
also be used for feedback given to the farmer on probable causes for the current welfare status of
the animals in order to improve the welfare state. In order to determine appropriate mechanisms for
implementing the WQ®-system on beef farms, we studied perceptions and attitudes towards the
WQ®-system on in total 90 beef farms in Austria, Germany and Italy.
Using questionnaire-guided interviews, the farmers’ view on animal welfare, aspects concerning the
on-farm application of the WQ®-system, preference for feed-back of information to the farmer,
expected benefits of the assessment and willingness to address weak points raised by the WQ®system
were assessed. Preliminary analysis included data from 51 farms in Austria and Germany
with an average herd size of 200 bulls.
75% of the farmers mentioned “improvement of animal welfare” as an incentive for a possible
implementation of the WQ®-system, and 51% rated the detection of deficiencies in housing and
management as “important”. 90% of the farmers were willing to join the WQ®-system. 79% rated
it “important” or “very important” to obtain advice on identified problems and 72% were prepared
to implement changes. Farmers would on average accept on-farm visits of about 7 hours. 84%
agreed to provide data regarding management, housing design and health records. Analysis will be
continued regarding e.g. country, farm size, husbandry systems and marketing strategy.
We conclude that a majority of the interviewed beef farmers are open to the general approach of the
WQ®-system. The modalities of the assessment system were accepted and farmers would be
prepared to actively participate in order to achieve welfare improvements. This will be considered
in an implementation study currently being carried out.
Contact information: Marlene Kirchner or email marlene.kirchner@boku.ac.at
Complete address: G. Mendelstr. 33 A - 1180 Wien Austria
Species: Beef cattle