Sustainable Meat Production Research Articles

Show Me More! The Influence of Visibility on Sustainable Food Choices.

Visual cues are omnipresent in an in-store environment and can enhance the visibility of a product. By using these visual cues, policy makers can design a choice environment to nudge consumers towards more sustainable consumer behavior. In this study, we use a combined nudge of display area size and quantity of displayed products to nudge consumers towards more sustainable meat choices. We performed a field experiment of four weeks in a butchery, located in a supermarket. The size of the display area and quantity of displayed poultry products, serving as the nudging intervention, were increased, whereas these were decreased for less sustainable meat products. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of our nudging intervention, we also collected data from a control store and performed a pre-and post-intervention measurement. We kept records of the sales data of the sold meat (amount of weight & revenue). When conducting a three-way ANOVA and post hoc contrast tests, we found that the sales of poultry increased during the nudging intervention, but did not decrease for less sustainable meat products. When removing the nudge again, the sales of poultry decreased again significantly in the experimental store. Changing the size of display area and the amount of products displayed in this display area created a shift in the consumers’ purchase behavior of meat.

Food certification, domestic politics and international trade: the US compliance response in three WTO disputes

ABSTRACTThroughout the World Trade Organization’s history, food certification has been the object of a series of disputes. In turn, food certification is an important element of environmental politics as it is often linked to the conservation of endangered species, promotion of sustainable agriculture and meat production, among others. How do domestic coalitions influence US compliance with WTO rulings in disputes involving food certification? A framework centered on domestic preferences is proposed and tested on the tuna-dolphin, shrimp-turtle and country-of-origin labeling disputes. Through process-tracing, complemented with content analysis, the cases show that the analytical framework partially explains the dependent variable (compliance timing and outcome). In addition to preferences, the cases also call attention to the importance of judicial precedent and scientific findings in influencing compliance timing and outcome in the disputes analyzed. This contributes to the broader literature by unpacking mechanisms leading to compliance.

Preaching to the middle of the road

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore strategic differences in marketing communication tactics for vegan and humane meat brands.Design/methodology/approachContent analysis was used to categorize the types of persuasive appeals used on the packaging of vegan and humane meat brands.FindingsHumane meat brands use animal welfare and environmental appeals more often whereas vegan brands use taste appeals more frequently.Social implicationsMarketers’ communication strategies for alternatives to traditional meat consumption are different from those of activists and non-profit organizations. By targeting middle of the road consumers, both vegan and humane brands can support widespread efficient and curtailment behaviors and in the process benefit consumers, the brands and society.Originality/valueAnti-consumption and/or reduction of meat and animal by-products are arguably the most impactful ways in which consumers can alter their diets to positively impact individual and societal well-being. Consumers seeking alternatives to traditional meat consumption may either chose more sustainable meat products (efficient behaviors) or reduce/eliminate meat consumption (curtailment behaviors). Existing research suggests that such consumers can be divided into two segments – those driven by personal motives (health and/or taste) and those motivated by prosocial concern (environmental sustainability and/or animal welfare) and brands should match persuasive appeals to consumer motives, i.e. curtailment-focused vegan brands should use environmental or animal justice appeals and efficiency-focused humane meat brands should use taste or health appeals. However, the present research assumes marketers’ perspective and demonstrates that both vegan and humane brands target middle of the road consumers striving to balance multiple personal and prosocial goals, being socially responsible without compromising taste.

Meat in a sustainable food system

Meat has been an important component of the human diet for centuries as a rich source of essential nutrients required for development, growth and maintenance. In addition to its nutritional value, meat production and processing provide employment and income generation in both commercial and informal farming sectors. However, in recent times, the sustainability of meat production, as well as the quality and safety of meat products has come under intense scrutiny as a result of the negative implications of livestock farming and meat consumption on the environment and human health, respectively. These concerns have become increasingly important to consumers and significantly influence consumption trends and the viability of the meat industry. Meat quality, safety and nutritional composition are influenced by the wide range of conditions to which meat-producing animals are exposed from ‘farm to fork’. Hence, a complete understanding of meat and factors affecting it at every stage of the production chain is beneficial for the control and enhancement of meat quality. Additionally, adopting a systems approach is key to minimizing the negative implications of the meat industry on the environment and health. Current farming conditions are characterized by increasingly variable weather patterns and a diminishing natural resource base. As such, determining environmentally friendly, climate resilient and sustainable production systems is crucial. Pre- to post-slaughter processes tailored to maximize carcass yields, minimize losses and prevent health risks are essential. Furthermore, there is a growing need among consumers for transparency and detailed information on meat production and composition. Research that links the dynamics involved in all stages of meat production is necessary to sustain the positive role of meat in the human diet and to maximize the contribution of meat towards the alleviation of food insecurity, while easing the impact on the environment. Keywords: Consumer perceptions, diet and nutrition, environmental health, food security, human health, livestock production

The Impact of Sustainability Aspects in the Meat Sector: A Cluster Analysis Based on Consumer Attitudes and Store Format Choice

Several consumer studies have shown considerable market potential for sustainable meat products, however, their markets shares are still marginal. In Germany, the sustainable aspects “organic,” “local origin,” and “animal welfare” are of special interest. To obtain a precise overview of potential target groups for these meat categories and their choice of store format, 620 German consumers were surveyed on their attitudes toward sustainable meat production and their shopping behavior. First, target groups based on consumers’ attitudes were identified by cluster analysis, taking into account possible overlaps. Consumers were also clustered by their store format choice and their preferred type of meat packaging. A cross tabulation of the results then provided insights into which store format and type of meat packaging is preferred by the target groups for sustainable meat products. Due to overlaps found in the target groups, the existence of important subgroups was shown. Amongst the target groups, only a slight preference for unpackaged meat products was found. Basically, the offer of sustainable meat products appears of interest for all store formats, with particular emphasis on supermarkets. The results of this study can support producers and retailers developing new and tailored marketing strategies for sustainable meat products.

A Consistent and Predictable Commercial Broiler Chicken Bacterial Microbiota in Antibiotic-Free Production Displays Strong Correlations with Performance.

Defining the baseline bacterial microbiome is critical to understanding its relationship with health and disease. In broiler chickens, the core microbiome and its possible relationships with health and disease have been difficult to define, due to high variability between birds and flocks. Presented here are data from a large, comprehensive microbiota-based study in commercial broilers. The primary goals of this study included understanding what constitutes the core bacterial microbiota in the broiler gastrointestinal, respiratory, and barn environments; how these core players change across age, geography, and time; and which bacterial taxa correlate with enhanced bird performance in antibiotic-free flocks. Using 2,309 samples from 37 different commercial flocks within a vertically integrated broiler system and metadata from these and an additional 512 flocks within that system, the baseline bacterial microbiota was defined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The effects of age, sample type, flock, and successive flock cycles were compared, and results indicate a consistent, predictable, age-dependent bacterial microbiota, irrespective of flock. The tracheal bacterial microbiota of broilers was comprehensively defined, and Lactobacillus was the dominant bacterial taxon in the trachea. Numerous bacterial taxa were identified, which were strongly correlated with broiler chicken performance across multiple tissues. While many positively correlated taxa were identified, negatively associated potential pathogens were also identified in the absence of clinical disease, indicating that subclinical dynamics occur that impact performance. Overall, this work provides necessary baseline data for the development of effective antibiotic alternatives, such as probiotics, for sustainable poultry production.IMPORTANCE Multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens are perhaps the greatest medical challenge we will face in the 21st century and beyond. Antibiotics are necessary in animal production to treat disease. As such, animal production is a contributor to the problem of antibiotic resistance. Efforts are underway to reduce antibiotic use in animal production. However, we are also challenged to feed the world's increasing population, and sustainable meat production is paramount to providing a safe and quality protein source for human consumption. In the absence of antibiotics, alternative approaches are needed to maintain health and prevent disease, and probiotics have great promise as one such approach. This work paves the way for the development of alternative approaches to raising poultry by increasing our understandings of what defines the poultry microbiome and of how it can potentially be modulated to improve animal health and performance.

189 Young Scholar Presentation: Technology in Livestock Production: Use of Production Technologies to Improve the Sustainability of Meat Production.

189 Young Scholar Presentation: Technology in Livestock Production: Use of Production Technologies to Improve the Sustainability of Meat Production.

Noxious gases in rabbit housing systems: effects of cross and longitudinal ventilation

Animal welfare is a matter of increasing interest due to ethical and economical worries regarding animal rights and the sustainability of meat production. Ammonia, carbon dioxide, and methane can be produced in the livestock buildings and, if not adequately controlled by ventilation, can be dangerous for animals and farmers. The aim of the present paper is to study the effects of different ventilation systems in rabbit buildings based on the temporal patterns and the spatial distribution of these noxious gases. The experimental measurements were conducted in two rabbit farms with genetically homogeneous animals subjected to the same diet. Two buildings with different forced ventilation layouts (cross ventilation - building A and longitudinal ventilation - building B) were subjected to the monitoring of indoor environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity, ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane) over a whole year. In both the buildings, ventilation was adjusted automatically by means of electronic control units, which were controlled by temperature sensors, located at the centre of the buildings. Gas concentrations inside the buildings followed clearly defined sinusoidal patterns on a daily basis with the highest values reached in winter during the morning hours for ammonia and during the night hours for carbon dioxide and methane. In particular, ammonia revealed a maximum concentration of 30.7 mg m–3 in building A (cross ventilation) and 12.9 mg m–3 in building B (longitudinal ventilation), whereas the minimum values were 6.0 and 4.2 mg m–3, in building A and B, respectively. As a consequence, daily mean concentrations of noxious gases, solely could not be considered representative of the actual conditions of air quality in the buildings. The airflow direction clearly influenced the spatial concentration of ammonia, which showed different patterns in the two buildings. In building A, the highest ammonia concentration was in a diffuse central area, whereas in building B, it was determined to be less extended and located in the proximity of the wall equipped with extraction fans. The results of this study provide important indications for the planning and management of housing systems for rabbits including: the correct positioning of gas sensors for regulating ventilation systems must be central in case of cross ventilation, but close to the suction fans in case of longitudinal ventilation; the cross ventilation can lead to ammonia concentration higher than longitudinal ventilation, which is caused by the close and prolonged contact of airflow with manure surface in the channels; fans for longitudinal ventilation must be positioned in the same side of the building where scrapers discharge manure; furthermore, manure scraping has to be performed daily in winter during the hours of the day when ventilation rate is at its maximum.

Edible insects are the future?

The global increase in demand for meat and the limited land area available prompt the search for alternative protein sources. Also the sustainability of meat production has been questioned. Edible insects as an alternative protein source for human food and animal feed are interesting in terms of low greenhouse gas emissions, high feed conversion efficiency, low land use, and their ability to transform low value organic side streams into high value protein products. More than 2000 insect species are eaten mainly in tropical regions. The role of edible insects in the livelihoods and nutrition of people in tropical countries is discussed, but this food source is threatened. In the Western world, there is an increasing interest in edible insects, and examples are given. Insects as feed, in particular as aquafeed, have a large potential. Edible insects have about the same protein content as conventional meat and more PUFA. They may also have some beneficial health effects. Edible insects need to be processed and turned into palatable dishes. Food safety may be affected by toxicity of insects, contamination with pathogens, spoilage during conservation and allergies. Consumer attitude is a major issue in the Western world and a number of strategies are proposed to encourage insect consumption. We discuss research pathways to make insects a viable sector in food and agriculture: an appropriate disciplinary focus, quantifying its importance, comparing its nutritional value to conventional protein sources, environmental benefits, safeguarding food safety, optimising farming, consumer acceptance and gastronomy.

How to position ‘mildly sustainable’ products: The joint impact of assortment display and price setting

To tempt consumers towards more sustainable food choices, ‘intermediately’ sustainable products (i.e., in between conventional and organic) have been introduced. This poses the managerial question how to best position this range of products. In an experiment with intermediately sustainable meat products, we show that the choice share of these intermediate products is high when price level and physical display signal a consistent positioning of these products. This implies that the effect of layout depends on the price level at which intermediately sustainable products are offered. When these products are offered at intermediate prices, displaying them in a separate section will increase choice (i.e., unique feature positioning). Yet, when intermediately sustainable products are offered at low prices, a mixed display in which intermediately sustainable and conventional products are dispersed will be more effective in increasing choice for the intermediately sustainable options (i.e., comparative positioning). These results show the importance of assortment display in affecting the sales potential of products, and how the most optimal display in-store depends on price level.

The Influence of Agritourism on Niche Meats Loyalty and Purchasing

Although research has been increasing on agritourism, many questions remain. Studies have indicated that agritourism can bring both economic and noneconomic benefits to farmers and that sustainably raised agriculture products can lead to both health and environmental benefits. The current study explores the relationship between preferred meat attributes of the consumer (PMA), interest in visiting an agritourism farm (AI), and increased loyalty to a meat product or farm, termed the food system bond (FSB), among consumers in North Carolina, United States. Results indicate that (1) a preference for sustainable meat products has a positive influence on both interest in visiting a farm that raises livestock sustainably and on the food system bond and that (2) agritourism has a positive impact on the food system bond. This suggests the potential for agritourism to connect specialty consumers with niche farmers, increasing farm revenues, supporting sustainably raised agriculture, and fostering overall rural sustainability.

Maternal slaughter at abattoirs: history, causes, cases and the meat industry

Animals of both sexes are slaughtered for meat and meat products at the abattoirs. It has been found in few countries that one-out-of-every-three ewe and one-out-of-every-four doe with single, twin or multiple foetuses are slaughtered in registered slaughterhouses. In quest for meat, numerous viable embryos and foetuses are wasted unnoticed since the productive pregnant animals are not spared in the process. The trend in the slaughter of pregnant animals for meat (ranging from 54.5% to 70.1%) therefore calls for a review to reminisce issues on slaughter reforms, emphasize its implication on losses of genetic materials and sustainability of meat production. As a way of ensuring that welfare quality® assessment is not compromised and cruelty is prevented during animal slaughter, the quantitation of housekeeping genes and naturally occurring microRNAs (miRNAs) are recommended for identifying candidate pain biomarkers. In order to respect consumers’ right however, the manuscript suggests meat branding where the consumption of meat from pregnant animals is ethical.

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): The “Super-Chicken” of the Sea?

In this article, the definition of sustainability is discussed, particularly in relation to the use of marine feed resources. The current review gives an overview of the development of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture and how it has evolved due to changes in legal and management framework conditions. Atlantic salmon production is characterized with high utilization of nutrients, a high yield of production, and a large demand for rendered by-products. All of these factors compare favorably to production of most terrestrial farm animals. Historically, salmon feed has contained fishmeal and fish oil as the primary protein and fat source. Rising demand for feed ingredients has not increased pressure on forage fish resources. Rather, there has been an increased use of plant protein and fat sources. Increased utilization of plant ingredients may not be as sustainable as often claimed. Provided that marine harvest is carried out within legal frames, harvesting the marine ecosystem is a sustainable operation, and at present, the only significant source of long chain n-3 fatty acids. It is concluded that Atlantic salmon farming can be compared to raising a marine “super chicken” being among the most sustainable meat products in the world food market.

EFECTO DE TRES FRECUENCIAS DE ALIMENTACIÓN EN EL CRECIMIENTO, UTILIZACIÓN DE ALIMENTO Y SOBREVIVENCIA DE JUVENILES DE DONCELLA Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Linnaeus, 1766).

La doncella Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Linnaeus, 1766), especie que tiene una amplia distribución en Sudamérica, es un pez, que por la calidad de su carne y su rápido crecimiento viene despertando el interés del sector acuícola, principalmente en países como Brasil, Colombia y el Perú. La agencia gubernamental peruana PROMPERU, viene buscando mercados para la carne de este pez y al mismo tiempo articulando con otros actores, el desarrollo de planes e investigaciones para el establecimiento de una oferta exportable de su filete. Uno de estos actores, es el Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana–IIAP, institución que viene desarrollando una serie de estudios que lleven a la generación de tecnologías para el cultivo de la doncella. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar los posibles efectos de tres frecuencias de alimentación (FA2, FA4 y FA6) sobre el crecimiento, utilización del alimento y sobrevivencia de juveniles de doncella (P. fasciatum) alimentados con una dieta peletizada (42% PB) durante 45 días. Al final del estudio, no se registraron diferencias significativas (P>0.05) en los índices de crecimiento, utilización de alimento, ni en los niveles de sobrevivencia de los peces como efecto de la aplicación de las tres frecuencias de alimentación (2, 4 y 6 veces/día). En conclusión, juveniles de doncella, de 20 g de peso promedio, sólo necesitarían ser alimentados dos veces al día, lo que permitirá al acuicultor obtener un adecuado rendimiento productivo de los peces, con un mínimo requerimiento de mano de obra.

Conflicts between reindeer herding and an expanding caribou herd in Alaska

The reindeer industry has existed in Alaska since 1892. This industry has largely been concentrated on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska because suitable habitat has been available and caribou have been absent here for over 100 years. Until recently, reindeer meat and velvet antler production consistently generated millions of dollars in revenue critical to the economies of rural Alaskan communities. From 1976 to 1996 the Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH) increased from about 75 000 to 463 000 animals. Concurrently, seasonal range use of the WACH shifted westward onto traditional reindeer ranges of the Seward Peninsula. Reindeer herders lost 75-100% of their herds through commingling and out¬migration with wild caribou. This loss of over 12 000 reindeer represents a potential economic value of 13 million dollars. Sustainable meat and velvet antler production and the economies of western Alaskan are likely to be affected by these changes.

Reproduction and productivity of semidomesticated reindeer in northern Finland

The increase in the Finnish semidomesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) stock and the high level of meat production during the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s were mainly due to reindeer-management practices. However, the continuing deterioration of winter-range quality has now forced reindeer managers to invest increasingly in supplementary feeding. At the same time, carrying-capacity models for semidomesticated- reindeer ranges have proved difficult to develop. This study deals with reproduction and productivity of the reindeer stock in northern Finland during the period 1987-1995. The results reveal that reproduction and productivity of reindeer in the study area are largely regulated by density-dependent factors related to the quantity and quality of winter ranges. Reindeer densities on total rangeland had the strongest effect on the slaughter body masses of reindeer, which indicates the special importance of summer and autumn pastures for growth and autumn condition of reindeer. Through intensive calf slaughtering, the natural mortality rate was minimised and reproduction rates and reindeer meat production were increased, although winter ranges were heavy grazed. Developing semidomesticated-reindeer husbandry to be more economical in the future by keeping sustainable meat production at a sufficiently high level while maintaining reindeer rangeland in adequate condition and supplementary feeding quite marginal in Finland involves consideration of both ecological and management factors. One way of looking at the economic carrying capacity of Finnish semidomesticated-reindeer ranges is to develop a model based on dependence among the factors presented in this study. Sustainable net incomes from reindeer husbandry could then be optimised by studying and modelling the economy of reindeer management itself with respect to stock density.