Environmental sustainability: farmers' views of housing systems for cattle

Abstract

In the establishment and maintenance of a housing system for cattle by farmers, their perception of housing systems plays an important role in their decision to choose the environmentally sustainable housing system. The aim of this study was to determine farmers’ attitudes towards their role, environmental sustainability, and perceived government support, to determine whether the role of cattle farmers influences their perceptions of different cattle housing systems, and to create a typology of cattle farmers based on these attitudes. The paper was based on online surveys (n = 306) and five focus groups with Slovenian cattle farmers (n = 42). Results show that the majority of participants placed a higher value on production than on the environment, but had adopted animal and environmentally friendly housing systems to achieve higher production and profits and to receive full direct payments. Four groups of cattle farmers based on the attitudes towards their role, environmental sustainability, and perceived governmental support were identified: Productivists, Traditionalists, Abandoners, and Environmentalists. Most respondents belonged to the Productivist group, who believed that environmental measures have a negative impact on agricultural development. A characteristic of the smaller Traditionalist group is that these farmers claimed to have an obligation to preserve or improve the environment for future generations. For Environmentalists, environmentally friendly agriculture is most important. The smallest group identified consists of farmers who indicated their role as a farmer was not important because they were likely to give up farming. Systematically planned communication aimed at different groups of farmers is needed to promote acceptance of changes in housing systems for cattle that reduce the greenhouse effect. HIGHLIGHTS The majority of farmers placed a higher value on production than on the environment. They had adopted animal and environmentally friendly housing systems to achieve higher production and profits and to receive full direct payments. There were four groups of cattle farmers: Productivists, Traditionalists, Abandoners, and Environmentalists.