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Filiep Vanhonacker presents Poster 91 during the poster sessions in the Aula.
Session theme 7: Stakeholders' views on animal welfare
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Poster 91
FARM ANIMAL WELFARE THROUGH THE EYES OF CITIZENS AND
PRODUCERS: SIMILARITIES AND DISSIMILARITIES
F. Vanhonacker 1 , W. Verbeke 1 , E. Van Poucke 2 , F. Tuyttens 2
1
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent,
Belgium
2
Department of Animal Sciences, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Melle, Belgium
Farm animal welfare has become a topic of interest throughout the entire livestock production
chain. Together with an increased interest in the issue, debates between the different stakeholders
are stimulated. However, differences in the interpretation of the concept of farm animal welfare
between and within stakeholder groups aggravate the debate. This study anticipates on this different
view by mapping the similarities and dissimilarities in the view of the stakeholders at both ends of
the chain, i.e. consumers and producers.
Quantitative cross-sectional data was collected through a questionnaire in April 2006 in Flanders,
including a representative consumer sample (n= 579) as well as a substantial producer sample (n=
204). A total of 72 aspects that are related to and considered as exhaustive for farm animal welfare
were presented to both groups.
In a first phase, the respondents were asked to indicate how important a positive condition of each
of the aspects was for an acceptable level of animal welfare. Secondly, they were asked to evaluate
the state of each aspect in current Flemish livestock production.
Regarding the first question, rather analogous perceptions appeared for both groups, with the
perception of the producers being more fine-grained. The largest differences concerned aspects
related to the expression of natural behaviour of the animals (higher importance among consumers
versus producers).
Concerning the second part, stronger perceptional differences were found. Whereas producers
reported no major welfare problems with current Flemish livestock production practices,
consumers’ perception was generally negative. This discrepancy seemed related to the different
criteria used by both groups for evaluating farm animal welfare (performance characteristics versus
image transfer from human health and welfare), to aspects subjected to high media coverage and to
a lack of practical based knowledge at consumer level.
These findings provide a valuable basis for facilitating the debate and bridging across any
potentially conflicting opinions.
Contact information: Filiep Vanhonacker or email filiep.vanhonacker@ugent.be
Complete address: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-
9000 Gent, Belgium
Species: General