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Abstract
Dairy farms in Sweden have undergone a structural change. The number of family farms has decreased, while the number of large dairy farms with employees caring for the animals has increased. This changing situation has created a new farming landscape. From that perspective, it is crucial to gain insight into what factors contribute to the well-being of humans and animals on big dairy farms. Twenty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted on three farms. Farmers and employees were interviewed. The material was analysed using a qualitative approach inspired by qualitative content analysis. For the farmers and employees, animal well-being was central for various reasons and from different perspectives. Despite the differences, the impact of animal well-being was interlinked between the two groups. An increased and deeper understanding of the different perspectives and needs arising from the different roles of farmers and employees can provide new knowledge about factors important for improvinganimal well-being.
Highlights
In the Swedish food strategy (Prop. 2016/17:104), milk production is described as one of Sweden’s most important agricultural production branches
The importance of animal well-being for job satisfaction and work in peace
Animal well-being and its importance will be viewed from a holistic perspective within dairy farms with employed staff, focusing on the perspectives of the employees and the farmer but not on individual animal well-being as a phenomenon
Summary
In the Swedish food strategy (Prop. 2016/17:104), milk production is described as one of Sweden’s most important agricultural production branches. 2016/17:104), milk production is described as one of Sweden’s most important agricultural production branches. The development of dairy farms in the industrialised parts of the world is increasingly moving towards the herds of large number of animals with higher levels of milk production. This development means that family farms are decreasing and are being replaced by milk-producing farms with employed staff (Barkema et al 2015). According to statistics from the Swedish Board of Agriculture (2021), the average number of cows in a herd in 1987 was 19; in 2021, it was 102. The average milk production per cow and year increased from 6849 kg ECM to 10 521 kg ECM (VÄXA 2022)
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