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Filiep Vanhonacker presents Poster 92 during the poster sessions in the Aula.
Session theme 7: Stakeholders' views on animal welfare
164
Poster 92
WHAT IS THE RELEVANCY OF SPACE ALLOWANCE IN
COMMUNICATING FARM ANIMAL WELFARE TO THE CONSUMER?
F. Vanhonacker 1 , E. Van Poucke 2 , F. Tuyttens 2 , W. Verbeke 1
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 is of increasing societal concern. Space allowance is one of the issues
contributing to the level of farm animal welfare. Many efforts have already been carried out to
assess the impact of space allowance on production parameters and animal welfare, and to
implement better standards. Given the current demanded-driven global economy, it is also
important to verify if space allowance is of actual importance and under concern at consumer level,
in absolute values as well as relative to other animal welfare related issues.
Cross-sectional survey data were collected independently from each other via self-administered
questionnaires in Flanders in four different years (2000, 2001, 2002 and 2006), resulting in a total
net response of 980 Flemish consumers. Space allowance was represented in terms of ‘stocking
density’, ‘pen size’ and ‘group size’. The consumers’ perceived importance as well as their
evaluation of these issues in current Flemish livestock production were probed for and compared to
other welfare issues. Linear regression models were used to estimate the impact of pen size and
group size on stocking density.
Study results confirmed the importance of space allowance at consumer level, indicating stocking
density and pen size among the most important issues in realising an acceptable level of farm
animal welfare. Group size was attributed less importance. Additionally, people considered the
current practice of stocking density and pen size in Flemish livestock production considerably
problematic, yielding high concern for these issues. Hence, addressing efforts by the different
stakeholders to these issues seems justified.
Finally, product differentiation focused on pen size rather than group size appears most promising
to downgrade consumer concern about the issue of space allowance, to realise the highest
opportunities to increase the revenues to cover the higher production costs, and to be competitive on
the market where animal welfare is a non-trade concern.
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