ABSTRACT
Consumer attitudes towards farm animal welfare (FAW) are not a one-dimensional phenomenon; they entail various attitudinal and social dimensions related to ethnicity, agri-food culture, ethics, purchasing power and beliefs. Therefore, the study aimed to identify segments of South American consumers of animal products according to their attitudes towards FAW. An online survey was carried out among participants from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia (n = 2852). A factor analysis followed by a hierarchical cluster analysis identified four consumers' segments based on their attitudes towards FAW. The first corresponds to consumers ethically committed to FAW (n = 1323), the second to those committed to farmers and interested in labels (n = 215), the third to consumers interested in FAW and farmers and their efforts towards FAW (n = 993), and the fourth, associated with apathetic consumers (n = 321). Although FAW is a relatively new commercial phenomenon in South America, our results showed that concern for animals may be a universal human value, which can overcome traditional dichotomies between rich-poor or developed-undeveloped countries.
Subject(s)
Animal Welfare , Animals, Domestic , Animals , Argentina , Attitude , Bolivia , Chile , Colombia , Ecuador , Farms , PeruABSTRACT
The aim of this cross-cultural survey conducted in a developed country (Spain, nâ¯=â¯1455) and an emerging country (Mexico, nâ¯=â¯833), was to analyse how meat consumers perceive farm animal welfare and how these perceptions and attitudes can be convergent or divergent. The intercultural comparison shows that animal welfare is a convergent value between Mexicans and Spaniards. However, the importance of animal welfare for consumers varies according to sociodemographic variables such as gender, rural or urban origin, educational level and age. The motivations of consumers in both countries to build this convergence around the overall importance on farm animal welfare are divergent. For Spaniards, animal welfare seems to be a legal, administrative, and verifiable reality that must be profitable to society. In contrast, for Mexican consumers, animal welfare is still an aspirational ideal. Despite this, such divergences may end up building large consensus that are transformed into a stable added value of the market for meat products.
Subject(s)
Animal Welfare , Consumer Behavior , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Adult , Animal Husbandry , Attitude , Female , Humans , Male , Meat , Mexico , Middle Aged , Socioeconomic Factors , Spain , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Increasingly, animal welfare (AW) is gaining ground worldwide because of pressure from importing countries, as well as the demand from a more conscious society regarding the living conditions of farm animals. Despite the growing concern about AW, there are few studies of stock persons welfare and how it might influence AW. The treatment of animals connects to stockpersons attitudes and behaviour, which in turn are associated with several human factors such as initial experience in the activity, welfare, quality of working conditions and human-animal relationship. Many authors have investigated this relationship and its association with positive attitudes of stock persons towards animals, which consequently influence AW and productivity. However, currently, there is no highlighted concern about the human issue, as the stock person welfare (SW), believed to be a key aspect of a successful implementation of AW programs. The present work suggests a broader view concerning AW, its relation to SW and the importance of improving both aspects in livestock systems.(AU)
Cada vez mais o bem-estar animal (BEA) está ganhando espaço mundialmente, tanto pela pressão dos países importadores, quanto pela demanda por uma sociedade mais consciente em relação às condições de vida dos animais de produção. Apesar da crescente preocupação com o BEA, há poucos estudos sobre o bem-estar dos trabalhadores e como isso pode influenciar no BEA. O tratamento dos animais está ligado às atitudes e aos comportamentos dos trabalhadores, que por sua vez estão associados a vários fatores humanos, como experiência inicial na atividade, bem-estar e qualidade das condições de trabalho e relação homem-animal. Muitos autores têm investigado essa relação e sua associação às atitudes positivas dos trabalhadores em relação aos animais, o que, consequentemente, influencia o BEA e a produtividade. No entanto, atualmente, não há nenhuma preocupação destacada sobre a questão humana, como o bem-estar dos trabalhadores (BT), que se acredita ser aspecto chave para uma implementação bem sucedida dos programas de BEA. O presente trabalho sugere uma visão mais ampla sobre o BEA, sua relação com o BT e a importância de se melhorar ambos os aspectos em sistemas de produção animal.(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Animal Welfare , Rural Health , Rural Workers , MentoringABSTRACT
Increasingly, animal welfare (AW) is gaining ground worldwide because of pressure from importing countries, as well as the demand from a more conscious society regarding the living conditions of farm animals. Despite the growing concern about AW, there are few studies of stock persons welfare and how it might influence AW. The treatment of animals connects to stockpersons attitudes and behaviour, which in turn are associated with several human factors such as initial experience in the activity, welfare, quality of working conditions and human-animal relationship. Many authors have investigated this relationship and its association with positive attitudes of stock persons towards animals, which consequently influence AW and productivity. However, currently, there is no highlighted concern about the human issue, as the stock person welfare (SW), believed to be a key aspect of a successful implementation of AW programs. The present work suggests a broader view concerning AW, its relation to SW and the importance of improving both aspects in livestock systems.
Cada vez mais o bem-estar animal (BEA) está ganhando espaço mundialmente, tanto pela pressão dos países importadores, quanto pela demanda por uma sociedade mais consciente em relação às condições de vida dos animais de produção. Apesar da crescente preocupação com o BEA, há poucos estudos sobre o bem-estar dos trabalhadores e como isso pode influenciar no BEA. O tratamento dos animais está ligado às atitudes e aos comportamentos dos trabalhadores, que por sua vez estão associados a vários fatores humanos, como experiência inicial na atividade, bem-estar e qualidade das condições de trabalho e relação homem-animal. Muitos autores têm investigado essa relação e sua associação às atitudes positivas dos trabalhadores em relação aos animais, o que, consequentemente, influencia o BEA e a produtividade. No entanto, atualmente, não há nenhuma preocupação destacada sobre a questão humana, como o bem-estar dos trabalhadores (BT), que se acredita ser aspecto chave para uma implementação bem sucedida dos programas de BEA. O presente trabalho sugere uma visão mais ampla sobre o BEA, sua relação com o BT e a importância de se melhorar ambos os aspectos em sistemas de produção animal.