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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Beth ClarkORCiD, Dr Gavin StewartORCiD, Dr Luca Panzone, Professor Ilias Kyriazakis, Professor Lynn FrewerORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Increased productivity may have negative impacts on farm animal welfare (FAW) in modern animal production systems. Efficiency gains in production are primarily thought to be due to the intensification of production, and this has been associated with in increased incidence of production diseases, which can negatively impact upon FAW. While there is a considerable body of research into consumer attitudes towards FAW, the extent to which this relates specifically to a reduction in production diseases in intensive systems, and whether the increased incidence of diseases represents a barrier to consumer acceptance of their increased use, requires further investigation. Therefore a systematic review of public attitudes towards FAW was conducted, with a specific focus on production diseases in intensive systems. Four databases were searched to identify relevant studies. A screening process, using a set of pre-determined inclusion criteria, identified 80 studies, with the strength of evidence and uncertainty assessed for each. A thematic analysis led to the identification of 6 overarching themes constructed from 15 subthemes. The results demonstrate that the public are concerned about FAW in modern production systems. Concern varied in relation to age, gender, education and familiarity with farming. Naturalness and humane treatment were central to what was considered good welfare. An evidence gap was highlighted in relation to attitudes towards specific production diseases, with no studies specifically addressing this. However, the prophylactic use of antibiotics was identified as a concern. A number of dissonance strategies were adopted by consumers to enable guilt free meat consumption.
Author(s): Clark B, Stewart GB, Panzone LA, Kyriazakis I, Frewer LJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics
Year: 2016
Volume: 29
Issue: 3
Pages: 455-478
Print publication date: 01/06/2016
Online publication date: 27/04/2016
Acceptance date: 11/04/2016
Date deposited: 14/04/2016
ISSN (print): 1187-7863
ISSN (electronic): 1573-322X
Publisher: Springer
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10806-016-9615-x
DOI: 10.1007/s10806-016-9615-x
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