Perception Of Animal Welfare Research Articles

Entertaining Commodities or Living Beings? Public Perception of Animal Welfare at Local Festivals in South Korea

Many festivals use animals in the name of continuing traditions and religious acts of historical and cultural relevance, as well as for tourist entertainment; however, the welfare of these animals has been overlooked in favor of maintaining cultural identity or making economic profits. The criticism of animal-based festivals has been growing along with the increased public awareness of animal rights. However, this change in public perception has not yet been translated into actual government policies in Korea. This study addresses the unethical practices and challenges regarding animal welfare at festivals from the perspective of visitors to understand the public perception of the need for institutional and regulatory interventions to improve the treatment of animals at festivals. An online survey (N = 1000) is conducted to examine the public perception of animals and animal welfare at festivals and how strongly online survey participants support organizer- and state-level actions to protect the welfare of festival animals. Logistic regression analyses identify gender, pet ownership, pro-animal attitude, visiting experience, sensitivity to criticism regarding animal issues, and perception of animal welfare at festivals as significant predictors of online survey participants’ support for actions ensuring the welfare of animals used in festivals. Our findings also suggest that people sympathize with the need to enhance animal welfare but have low levels of sensitivity to the maltreatment of animals at festivals, indicating the existence of cognitive dissonance. Establishing guidelines and regulations for improving animal welfare can help festivals use animals in a more sustainable way and make visitors rethink and re-establish human–animal relationships.

How photos can affect children's perception of animal welfare: A study involving pupils from Portugal and Spain

AbstractThis study aimed to identify perceptions of animal welfare in pupils from Portugal and Spain. Two versions of a questionnaire were designed. Each included one of a pair of photos for the same context, three out of six, intended to generate a positive perception of animal welfare. The results were similar in both countries and by sex, supporting the idea that the framing of photos can manipulate the children's perception of animal welfare. The importance of the development of visual literacy in children, as a way to better interpret the implicit and explicit messages proposed by photos, is recommended.

Consumer willingness to pay for premium price of eggs animal welfare in Mojokerto, East Java

The term animal welfare is already known in Indonesia, but this technology has not been widely applied, especially in the chicken egg industry. Many factors constrain the application of animal welfare, but they are mostly hampered by the lack of knowledge about consumer perceptions of animal welfare and willingness to pay for eggs that apply animal welfare standards to their production technology. This study aimed to determine consumer perceptions of animal welfare, measure consumers’ willingness to pay for eggs that apply to animal welfare and identify the determining factors. We conducted a survey of 110 egg buyers using the convenience sampling method. Most egg buyers have a positive perception of cage-free (62.7 percent), outdoor access (78.1 percent), move freely (89.1 percent), nest egg (99.1 percent), and free feeding (84.5 percent) as a form of animal welfare treatment. Our data also showed that 76.4 egg buyers were willing to pay for the egg with animal welfare attributes 20.9 percent above the regular price. Using the PLSPM (Partial Least Squares Path Modelling), it was found that animal welfare treatments positively determine the willingness to pay. Willingness to pay was also determined by animal welfare applications which can improve egg quality and consumer satisfaction. This research implies that consumers will appreciate the application of animal welfare in egg production in Indonesia if animal welfare treatment is accompanied by an increase in egg quality.

Consumers’ Perception of Animal Welfare in the Aegean Region, Türkiye

Bu araştırma Ege bölgesindeki tüketicilerin hayvan refahına ilişkin algısının incelenmesi için yapılmıştır. Saha survey araştırma yöntemi kullanılan araştırmada barınak, beslenme, personel ve hayvan sağlığı şartları ile diğer şartlar olmak üzere 5 boyut ve toplam 52 adet maddeden oluşan hayvan Refahı Algı Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın evrenini İzmir ve Aydın İl Merkezleri ile bağlı ilçelerde bulunan ve 18 yaş üzerindeki toplam 415 tütekici oluşturmuştur. Araştırmaya katılmayı kabul eden tüketicilere hayvan refahına algı ölçeği yüz yüze uygulanmıştır. Ege bölgesi tüketicilerinin hayvan refahına ilişkin algı düzeyinin yüksek olduğu, hayvan refahını hayvan sağlığı, etik değerler, doğal gıda ve gıda güvenliği ve kalitesi ile ilişkilendirdiği belirlendi. Bu bulgular tüketicilerin bilgi, düşünce ve farkındalık durumlarının hayvan refahı temel gereksinimleri ile paralellik gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Bununla birlikte tüketicilerin hayvan refahına ilişkin bilgi düzeyinin düşük olduğu ve yoğun hayvansal ütretim sistemlerindeki yetiştirme uygulamalarının hayvan refahı kayıplarını nasıl etkilediğine ilişkin bilgilerinin yetersiz olduğu tespit edildi. Tüketicilerin üçte birisi hayvan refahı standartları altında üretilen ürünleri satın almak istediğini beyan etmiş ve hatta daha fazla ödemeye gönüllük sergilemiştir. Sonuç olarak Ege bölgesi tüketicilerinin hayvan refahı algısının yüksek olduğunu, konu hakkındaki bilgi ihtiyaçlarının giderilmesi durumunda animal friendly ürünlere talep yapan tüketici oranının ve yüksek ödeme gönüllülüğünün daha da artabileceği sonucuna varılmıştır.

Using Community Conversations to explore animal welfare perceptions and practices of rural households in Ethiopia

There is a scarcity of data on animal welfare and its impact on livelihoods to inform animal welfare initiatives in Ethiopia. Perceptions and practices of rural households toward animal welfare are influenced by socio-cultural, demographic, and agroecological factors. We conducted Community Conversations in two geographically and culturally diverse regions of Ethiopia to explore the attitudes and practices of rural households regarding animal welfare and its impact on livelihoods. Community Conversations are facilitated dialogues among rural households to explore their perceptions, practices, constraints, and needs and identify and co-create solutions to improve the welfare of their animals. We used single- and mixed-sex discussion groups to understand community members' gendered perceptions of animal welfare and influence their attitudes and practices toward gender-equitable roles in animal welfare management. In the Community Conversations, community members readily described the biological needs of their animals but there was also a good acknowledgment of the behavioral and affective state needs of animals. Identified constraints for animal welfare included feed and water shortage, limited veterinary support, and poor animal handling practices. Community members described the welfare of their animals as being intertwined with their own livelihoods and identified productive, public health, and non-economic benefits of good animal welfare. Raising awareness of animal welfare within rural communities through Community Conversations is a useful way to both identify livestock production needs as well as engage community members in making practical improvements in animal welfare. The understanding of perceptions, practices, and needs of rural households in animal welfare helps engage communities in starting behavioral change and provides insights into developing context-specific welfare improvement interventions. Community Conversations are also an effective way to feedback community voices into planning to build a bottom-up implementation of animal welfare programs.

A Nationwide Survey of Animal Science Students' Perceptions of Animal Welfare across Different Animal Categories at Institutions in the United States.

Simple SummaryThe field of animal welfare science studies the well-being of animals, including an animal’s physical and emotional state. Previous studies have investigated veterinary students’ perceptions of animal welfare, although few studies have focused on animal science students’ perceptions of the topic. The aim of this study was to determine if animal science students’ perceptions of animal welfare differed across a multitude of animal categories, including agricultural animals, cats and dogs, horses and other equids, research animals, and wildlife. Results indicate that most survey respondents agreed that animal welfare was important for all animal categories. In qualitative analyses of the open-ended survey questions, basic needs and human interaction were identified by respondents as key welfare components for all animal categories; however, the frequency with which identified welfare themes was mentioned differed by category. Results also highlighted perception differences within different agricultural animal species; fewer respondents agreed that poultry and swine are raised with an appropriate level of welfare compared to dairy and beef cattle. Understanding animal science students’ perceptions of animal welfare may lead to a greater understanding of how they will assess and manage animal welfare issues as part of their future careers in the agricultural and animal-related sectors.Animal welfare is an increasingly important topic across multiple academic disciplines; however, few studies have investigated student perceptions of animal welfare outside of veterinary medicine. The objective of the study was to evaluate animal science students’ perceptions of animal welfare to determine if perceptions differ across animal categories. An online survey was distributed to animal science programs at institutions across the United States. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on 624 responses. Almost all respondents agreed welfare was important for all animal categories (≥97%). The survey asked respondents to rate the level of importance of 12 welfare parameters and there was evidence that the level of importance differed by animal category (p < 0.0001), e.g., fewer respondents indicated having positive interactions with humans was important for agricultural animals. In a subset of questions about agricultural animals, fewer respondents agreed that swine (325, 52.1%) and poultry (268, 43.0%) are raised with an appropriate level of welfare compared to dairy (425, 68.1%) and beef cattle (421, 67.5%). Four free-response questions asked respondents to report their general perceptions of welfare. Thematic analysis identified multiple themes, such as basic needs and human interaction, with most responses (75%) including two or more themes.

Farm animal welfare: A survey of the opinion of farmers and consumers in Sardinia

Animal welfare in the European Union is strictly regulated and has the highest standards in the field. It is also present in the CAP in both the first and second pillars. In Sardinia, animal welfare has taken on greater importance since it was introduced via the Rural Development Plan (RDP) in 2005. The context in which the animal welfare programme was initiated was that of a rural setting that had never before followed such projects and to which even the word welfare aimed at animals was alien. The welfare plan was geared hygiene in milking and housing, and the fight against foot problems and stress for primiparous ewes during the first week of milking. After 15 years of implementing animal welfare support interventions from public funds, this work aimed to investigate the perception of animal welfare among both beneficiary farmers and citizen-consumers. The data were collected in a linked survey on both farmers and consumers who are involved in the profound social and economic implications for the Island. On the one hand, 98% of breeders consider animal welfare to be important for the health and productivity of their animals, even though 59% also claim to have changed little or nothing in their farm management following the introduction of RDP measures, partially because the animal welfare measures were already being practised. On the other hand, public respondents’ willingness to pay more when it comes to purchase decisions can be considered as interesting evidence of a possible collective understanding which deserves further investigation. The results highlight the fact that animal welfare is undoubtedly a well-known and topical issue which has gained widespread attention and a broad agreement on its relevance and priority. Nonetheless, a shared vision on the meaning of welfare is lacking, even within regional policies that appear to be strongly segmented.

동물복지 인증 계란에 대한 소비자 선호

This study estimates consumers’ willingness to pay for several eggs attributes, with primary focus on animal welfare. A nationwide online survey of 1,000 consumers was conducted to determine consumers’ preferences for animal welfare certification and identify perceptions of animal welfare claims and certifications factors affecting consumers’ willingness to pay by using the mixed logit model. The results from a choice experiment indicate that consumers place significant value on animal welfare certification, package size, expiration date and prices. We find a high degree of heterogeneity in willingness to pay for free-range and cage-free eggs. The mean premium for free-range eggs and cage-free eggs are 2,672KRW and 1,862KRW per 10 eggs, respectively. Our results also indicate that consumer perceptions of animal welfare and certification are associated with a willingness to pay. Results suggest there is potential for increasing the market share for animal welfare certified eggs.

Knowledge of Animal Welfare and Consumers' Behavioral Intentions in China: A Moderated Mediation Model of Product Cognition and Empathy.

Simple SummaryIn this study, consumer perceptions of animal welfare have been assessed. The results can strongly support the development of policies and legislation regarding animal-friendly production. In China, the demand for animal-friendly products is increasing, but so far, the research on the relationship between the knowledge of animal welfare and animal-friendly consuming intentions is limited. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the knowledge of animal welfare on consumers’ behavioral intentions and its mechanism. The survey covered 1499 food consumers in Guangdong province, China. Our empirical results suggest that increasing knowledge of animal welfare is significantly positive for the intention of animal-friendly products consumption. Furthermore, empathy moderates the indirect effect between animal-friendly product cognition and the behavioral intention both to purchase and recommend.As purchase power and consumption knowledge increase, consumers gradually demand safer and healthier products. Animal welfare is expected to be an important attribute of high-end food in the future and a major concern for the high-quality development of the livestock industry. The objective was to shed new light on our understanding of consumers’ perceptions and behavioral intentions toward animal-friendly food. Using sample data of 1499 food consumers in Guangdong province, China, this study explored the role of product cognition and empathy in the relationship between consumers’ knowledge and behavioral intentions. Results indicate that knowledge of animal welfare significantly influences consumers’ behavioral intentions, and there is a mediating effect on cognition. Meanwhile, empathy moderates the relationship between product cognition and consumers’ intentions to purchase or recommend animal-friendly products. Improving consumers’ knowledge of animal welfare and cognitive levels of animal-friendly products may contribute to promoting animal-friendly product consumption and sustainable development of the livestock industry.

Public Perceptions of Herpetofauna in Zoos

ABSTRACT This study examined the perceptions of zoo visitors toward herpetofauna to identify the specific factors that affect their perceptions of these animals. A survey was administered via a QR code posted outside exhibit spaces at three zoos in Florida. A total of 616 survey responses were collected. All participants were over the age of 18 years and a majority of responses (71%) were from women. Findings from this study suggest that demographic factors, such as gender and education level, are most likely to be associated with negative perceptions. In addition, a participant’s comfort level with reptiles and amphibians was associated with their perception of the animal being likeable. Findings also demonstrate that there was not a significant difference in the perceptions of the animals between the various orders of herpetofauna. Results from this study support the existing literature stating that there is an association between zoo visitor perceptions and their perceptions of animal welfare as well as their willingness to support conservation efforts. As such, zoos should strive to enhance the connection between their audiences and herpetofauna to help dispel common misperceptions of the animals that may increase discomfort or dislike of the animal. Due to the global decrease in herpetofauna populations around the globe, the effort to combat negative perceptions of these animals is critical to garnishing support for conservation programs.

"Cattle Welfare Is Basically Human Welfare": Workers' Perceptions of 'Animal Welfare' on Two Dairies in China.

‘Animal welfare' (动物福利) is a foreign term in China, and stakeholder interpretations can affect receptiveness to the concept. Our aim was to explore workers' perceptions of animal welfare on two dairies in China. We used a mini-ethnographic case study design, with the first author (MC) living for 38 days on one farm and 23 days on a second farm. MC conducted semi-structured interviews (n = 13) and participant observations (n = 41) with farm management and staff. We used template analysis to generate key themes from the ethnographic data. Responses revealed a connection between human and animal welfare. Workers saw human welfare as a prerequisite to animal welfare, and cattle welfare as potentially mutually beneficial to humans. Some workers also saw an ethical obligation toward providing cattle with good welfare. Though some workers were unfamiliar with the term ‘animal welfare,' in daily practice caring for cattle led farm workers to ponder, prioritize, and make decisions relevant to welfare including lameness, morbidity, and nutrition. Workers in management positions appeared to embrace evidence-based animal care improvements, especially those which were perceived to also benefit people. Based on our findings, we suggest animal welfare initiatives should (1) consider worker welfare, (2) clearly communicate the concept of ‘animal welfare,' (3) identify mutual benefits, and (4) provide pragmatic, evidence-based strategies to improve welfare.

Perception of animal welfare and its certification system by Brazilian consumers and dairy farmers.

The practices adopted in dairy farms can positively or negatively affect the perception of consumers. To meet consumer expectations and improve the productivity of dairy farms, a welfare certification system has recently been initiated in Brazil. In this research communication we describe the perceptions of Brazilian consumers and farmers regarding the implementation of welfare certification systems and the most common practices that affect animal welfare on dairy farms. For this purpose, two semi-structured questionnaires were used: one applied to 409 consumers and the other to 158 dairy farmers. The results demonstrate that consumers are concerned with the adoption of welfare practices in animal husbandry at dairy farms, mainly on topics related to movement restriction and cow-calf separation. Thus, the majority of consumers state that they are willing to pay more for welfare-certified dairy products. In addition, most dairy farmers are interested in adopting a welfare certification system, especially if it could add value to the raw milk sold to industries. Veterinarians and animal scientists are important for disseminating animal welfare recommendations, and the consequences of its improper adoption need to be emphasized. Finally, dairy farms need improvements regarding environmental hygiene, thermal conditions, animal husbandry, health, and milking processes. In conclusion, consumers and farmers are interested in welfare systems and their certification, and there is a need for stakeholders to make welfare certification a reality in the Brazilian dairy supply chain.

Public attitude toward and perceptions of dairy cattle welfare in cow-calf management systems differing in type of social and maternal contact

Early cow-calf separation followed by individual housing of calves is standard practice on dairy farms. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that as awareness grows the public will oppose these practices, which could compromise the dairy industry's social license. Despite disagreement among different stakeholders over weighting and evaluations of effects of early separation (e.g., distress response, disease risk), recent systematic reviews indicate that there is little scientific evidence supporting this practice. The acceptability of alternative cow-calf management systems is unknown. We used a mixed methods survey with a convenience sample of 307 Canadians plus a representative sample of 1,487 Americans to investigate perceptions of these systems, examining the effects of providing social or foster cow contact following early separation or not separating cow-calf pairs. Attitudes and perceptions of animal welfare were more positive (on a 7-point scale where 1 is most negative, 7 is most positive, and 4 is a neutral midpoint) toward the system where calves were not separated from the cow (mean ± SE; 5.8 ± 0.07; 5.7 ± 0.07), compared with systems in which the calf was separated and individually housed (3.6 ± 0.07; 3.4 ± 0.07), separated and group housed (3.7 ± 0.07; 3.4 ± 0.07), or separated and kept with a foster cow (3.8 ± 0.07; 3.6 ± 0.07). Participants were consistent in their attitudes toward and perceptions of animal welfare within the system, suggesting that participants took a holistic and value-oriented approach to cow-calf management regarding separation. These results, in combination with many participants' concern for the importance of the mother cow-calf relationship and perceptions that severing of this bond was a breach of standard of care, suggest that there may be low acceptance of any cow-calf management system involving early separation as such systems are unlikely to resonate with underlying values.

Current Consumer Perceptions of Animal Welfare across Different Farming Sectors on the Island of Ireland.

Simple SummaryThe well-being and welfare of animals on farms is a topic of interest to many people. On the island of Ireland, this issue has received increased attention because of political and governance changes, including Brexit and COVID-19. Policy-makers and industry are considering labelling schemes to inform the food consumer about welfare standards on farms. Focus groups and an online survey were carried out with members of the public on the island of Ireland to explore their awareness, perceptions, and attitudes toward farm animal welfare standards on farms in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Most consumers believed farm animal welfare standards were high, although different farming sectors were rated differently: beef and dairy farms were viewed more positively, and pig and poultry farms were viewed less positively. The living conditions of the animal, size and intensity of the farm, national standards and schemes, and visibility all influenced perceptions of welfare standards. The public also expressed a lack of knowledge and information on the topic. In developing new policies and labelling schemes, it is important to be apprised of the current awareness, attitudes, and perceptions that the public has regarding farm animal welfare standards, as identified in the current paper. There has been increased public interest and concerns in issues such as farm animal welfare (FAW) on the island of Ireland, stoked in part by political and governance changes, such as Brexit and COVID-19. Front-of-pack food labelling represents a primary information channel for many people. In advance of considering formalised food labelling schemes, specifically relating to FAW, it is important to ensure an up-to-date understanding of current consumer perceptions of FAW. With this aim, the current study utilised a mixed methodology. Nine focus group discussions (n = 41) and an online survey (n = 972) with food consumers in Ireland and Northern Ireland explored perceptions of FAW. Results suggest that overall perceptions of FAW are high, and consumers perceive FAW to have improved in the last decade. Quantitative (ANOVA) and qualitative results show variations in perception of FAW between sectors. Results from the focus group discussions identified factors underlying consumers’ perception of FAW: the living conditions of the animal, size and intensity of the farm, national standards and schemes, and visibility. Information insufficiencies and knowledge gaps were identified. The findings are discussed in relation to policy implications for the role of public engagement, front-of-pack welfare labelling, and quality assurance schemes.

Irish cattle farmers’ experiences and perceptions of negative framing of farm animal welfare in the media

Increased urbanisation in recent decades has created a knowledge gap between farming and the Irish public. Mainstream media has begun filling this gap through reports on farm animal welfare (FAW) incidents that sometimes frame farming in a negative way. This negative framing can influence how farmers perceive the information communicated in these media stories and colour their experiences. Furthermore, perceived societal pressures may contribute to farmers feeling overwhelmed or negatively impact their mental health. In the context of FAW, the latter is particularly relevant as poor farmer mental health has been associated with poorer animal welfare. However, little is known about how the negative framing of FAW stories influence farmers’ perceptions and experiences. The aim of this study was to explore how negatively framed media stories about FAW incidents affect cattle farmers’ perceptions of animal welfare. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with seven Irish beef and dairy farmers using vignettes displaying negatively framed FAW incidents presented in the media. Five themes were identified: (1) job satisfaction and motivation, (2) impact on the human–animal relationship, (3) the importance of community, (4) negative portrayal of farmers and (5) need for FAW education. Findings suggest that negative framing of FAW in the media, as well as rural restructuring in Ireland, may negatively affect farmers’ motivation which could have indirect implications for the welfare of their animals.

University students' perception of animal welfare and opinions on consumption of milk and dairy products

The aim of this study is to determine the opinions of university students on the consumption of milk and dairy products within the scope of animal welfare. The research was carried out with 361 randomly selected students from Samsun Ondokuz Mayıs University, Turkey, using a face-to-face questionnaire. In the study, the rate of students who think that, they do not have information about the presence and amount of cholesterol in milk and dairy products was 77.35%, milk and dairy products contain all the nutritional elements was 35.62%, UHT milk is not spoiled for a long time due to heat treatment was 28.90%, milk, cheese, yoghurt prices are normal were 63.34%, 40.41%, 68.31%, respectively, there was a welfare problem in farm animals was 56.00%. Also, the rate of students who want label information about milk and dairy products produced from animals raised under welfare conditions was 75.43%. The rates of students who can pay up to 10%, 11-25%, and more than 25% for milk and dairy products because they are suitable for animal welfare were determined as 64.74%, 26.14% and 9.12%, respectively. As a result, it was determined that university students' perceptions of animal welfare and their views on milk and dairy products consumption were generally at an acceptable level. However, more information and necessary training support should be provided to bring them to the desired level.

Dairy goat welfare in semi-intensive production systems and drought conditions

AbstractThe region of Coquimbo has the highest percentage of goats (Capra hircus) in Chile and is severely affected by droughts. This can lead to environmental challenges such as limited water and forage availability when goats are kept in natural grasslands. The objective of this study was to assess the welfare of dairy goats in semi-intensive production systems under drought conditions. The study was carried out in La Serena city, region of Coquimbo, Chile and 22 semi-intensive dairy goat farms were assessed using the Animal Welfare Indicators protocol. In each evaluation, the following indicators and information were gathered: physical and behavioural indicators of animal welfare, farmers’ sociodemographic information, farm facilities, husbandry practices and management of the farm, and farmers’ perception of animal welfare. Of the goats evaluated (n = 446), the vast majority had a body condition score (BCS) considered normal (n = 349; 78.25%). The main welfare problems were poor hair condition, faecal soiling, overgrown claws and improper disbudding or dehorning. The majority of farmers (96%) considered it ‘rather important’ or ‘very important’ to handle their goats in a gentle manner, expressing concern about the welfare of their animals and considering pain as a negative experience for goats. A lower than expected percentage of very thin animals (low BCS) were seen, considering the drought conditions and the forage shortage that affects the region, and no animals were observed with signs of thermal stress. The semi-intensive production systems could be an alternative to pasture-based systems to overcome environmental challenges.

Perceptions of animal welfare and animal welfare curricula offered for undergraduate and graduate students in animal science departments in the United States.

While perceptions of animal welfare have been assessed in veterinary students and students internationally, there remains a gap in research concerning undergraduate and graduate student perspectives of animal welfare in animal science programs at colleges and universities across the United States. A survey was developed to assess current animal science student perspectives of the importance of animal welfare as part of their education, their knowledge of available educational opportunities, and resources they think should be included in animal welfare curricula. An online survey was distributed to a national listserv of university administrators of animal science programs in the United States. A total of 624 survey responses were statistically summarized. Most respondents were undergraduate students (78.0%, n = 487), between the ages of 18 and 24 (85.9%, n = 536), and female (86.1%, n = 537). Results indicated that despite most respondents not taking an animal welfare course previously (60.7%, n = 379), most students strongly agreed that the inclusion of an animal welfare course is an important part of the animal science curriculum (72.0%, n = 449), that animal welfare is an important component of their education (63.1%, n = 394), and that animal welfare courses would be helpful for their future careers (70.0%, n = 437). When asked what attributes would be most important in an animal welfare class, students identified many different types of information and resources. The majority of respondents answered that discussing current hot topics in animal welfare (76.1%, n = 475), ethical discussions (76.0%, n = 474), and practical, applied questions (75.3%, n = 470) were important course components. Suggestions for future research include investigating how animal science student perceptions change before and after taking an animal welfare course and exploring opportunities to expand formal welfare education in animal science departments. Inclusion of animal welfare into the curriculum is critical as many of the students currently enrolled in animal science departments will become the future stakeholders in animal-focused industries.

Update on animal welfare perception by Italian consumers: A descriptive survey.

The aim of this study was to evaluate if and how the perception of animal welfare by Italian consumers and their purchasing behavior of animal-friendly foods have evolved in recent years. The research was carried out through a survey on a representative sample of Italian consumers (n=969). Responses showed that 69% of consumers declared to pay attention to animal welfare at time of purchasing, and they mostly acquired information about animal welfare through the mass media. In accordance with previous surveys, the categories perceived as having the highest welfare level were fish and dairy cows, whereas the lowest welfare level was attributed to broilers and pigs. Compared to previous surveys, Italian consumers seem to have improved their knowledge about the legislation on animal protection and increased their interest toward animal welfare issues. However, they still find it difficult to identify animalfriendly labels, together with a lack of knowledge about non-conventional (e.g. extensive and organic) farming systems.

A Citizen Science Trial to Assess Perception of Wild Penguin Welfare.

Wild penguins are facing increased threats to their populations and their welfare as a consequence of human activities. Understanding the perception of animal welfare is essential to identify ethical concerns related to the negative impact of anthropogenic factors on wild species and to guide conservation efforts that reflect societal values. Since penguin conservation is of general interest, we examined the human dimension of welfare assessment across a range of interest groups concerned with penguins, seabird biology and wildlife conservation. We provided participants with a Penguin Welfare Assessment Tool (PWAT) based on the five domains model. The PWAT supports consideration of the impact of four physical aspects on welfare-relevant mental states. Bibliometric analysis of keywords from 347 scientific articles indicated that penguins around the world face five main types (themes) of anthropogenic factors and we then developed five hypothetical scenarios, each related to one theme. Seventy-five participants scored the overall impact of the events described in the scenarios on penguin welfare as negative using the PWAT. Participants rated short-duration, high-intensity events (i.e., being trapped in a ghost fishing net) as having a significantly more severe impact on penguin welfare than low-intensity, long-duration events (P < 0.0001). Scores provided by participants for each domain for each scenario were largely as expected and we found good correlation (all P < 0.0001) between the physical domains and “mental state” for all scenarios, indicating that the tool was facilitating the participants' assessment of welfare. No evidence was found that experience of working or studying penguins, or indeed any other demographic factor investigated, influenced the assessments of welfare. We found little agreement between participants in the scores provided (unalike scores mostly between 0.7 and 0.8), and agreement between participants with experience of working with penguins was no better than between participants without such experience. We discuss the possibility that low agreement within different interest groups may be improved by providing more scientific information to support the evaluation of penguin welfare. We conclude that scientific knowledge of penguin biological responses to anthropogenic factors is vital to support the evaluation of wild penguin welfare by the public and other stakeholders.