Abstract
Simple SummaryImproving stakeholder attitudes to livestock welfare may help to facilitate the better welfare that is increasingly demanded by the public for livestock. Knowledge of the existing attitudes towards the welfare of livestock during transport and slaughter provides a starting point that may help to target efforts. We compared the attitudes of different stakeholders within the livestock industries in east (E) and southeast (SE) Asia. Farmers were more motivated to improve animal welfare during transport and slaughter by peer pressure, business owners by monetary gain, and business managers by what is prescribed by their company. Veterinarians showed the most support for improving animal welfare. The results suggest that the role that stakeholders play in their sector of the livestock industry must be considered when attempting to change attitudes towards animal welfare during transport and slaughter. Stakeholders in the livestock industry are in a position to make critical choices that directly impact on animal welfare during slaughter and transport. Understanding the attitudes of stakeholders in livestock-importing countries, including factors that motivate the stakeholders to improve animal welfare, can lead to improved trade relations with exporting developed countries and improved animal welfare initiatives in the importing countries. Improving stakeholder attitudes to livestock welfare may help to facilitate the better welfare that is increasingly demanded by the public for livestock. Knowledge of the existing attitudes towards the welfare of livestock during transport and slaughter provides a starting point that may help to target efforts. This study aimed to investigate the animal welfare attitudes of livestock stakeholders (farmers, team leaders, veterinarians, business owners, business managers, and those working directly with animals) in selected countries in E and SE Asia (China, Thailand, Viet Nam, and Malaysia). The factors that motivated them to improve animal welfare (in particular their religion, knowledge levels, monetary gain, the availability of tools and resources, more pressing community issues, and the approval of their supervisor and peers) were assessed for their relationships to stakeholder role and ranked according to their importance. Stakeholder roles influenced attitudes to animal welfare during livestock transport and slaughter. Farmers were more motivated by their peers compared to other stakeholders. Business owners reported higher levels of motivation from monetary gain, while business managers were mainly motivated by what was prescribed by the company for which they worked. Veterinarians reported the highest levels of perceived approval for improving animal welfare, and all stakeholder groups were least likely to be encouraged to change by a ‘western’ international organization. This study demonstrates the differences in attitudes of the major livestock stakeholders towards their animals’ welfare during transport and slaughter, which advocacy organisations can use to tailor strategies more effectively to improve animal welfare. The results suggest that animal welfare initiatives are more likely to engage their target audience when tailored to specific stakeholder groups.
Highlights
Agribusiness is a large and important global industry that impacts on the lives of over 25 billion animals annually [1], far larger than that of any other industry.Slaughter and transport are key events for the welfare of the animals involved
The results suggest that animal welfare initiatives are more likely to engage their target audience when tailored to specific stakeholder groups
Business managers did not see their workspace as an issue when considering their ability to improve animal welfare, whereas people working directly with animals did. This indicates that business managers believe they have or have provided all the necessary tools to improve animal welfare in their business, and this belief is consistent with their positive opinion of animal welfare in their workplace. These findings suggest that building awareness amongst business managers, owners, and supervisors about the benefits of improving animal welfare may increase the likelihood of engaging business owners and managers in encouraging employees in efforts to improve animal welfare
Summary
Slaughter and transport are key events for the welfare of the animals involved. As well as impacting the animals, adverse welfare events occurring during slaughter and transport activate adrenergic mechanisms within the body, resulting in increased muscle glycogenolysis and reduced carcass quality [2]. Slaughtermen, livestock transporters, business owners, business managers, farmers, and vets are required to make decisions within their roles that have the ability to improve or jeopardize the welfare of the animals in their care. According to the Theory of Planned Behavior, understanding attitudes is the precursor to understanding human behavior [3]. Understanding the factors that motivate human behavior is of critical importance when trying to encourage behavioral changes that will improve animal welfare. The benefit of understanding the target audience is well understood in terms of improved engagement with a product in marketing spheres [4], but the same understanding seems to rarely have been prioritized when encouraging engagement with an idea, message, or practice in social progress initiatives
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