Animal Science Faculty Attitudes Toward Animal Welfare

This survey measures the attitudes of U.S. animal science faculty toward farm animal welfare.

More than 90% of survey respondents support the general principles of animal welfare, including keeping the animals free from distress and unnecessary fear.

With respect to beef cattle, dairy cattle, layer chickens, meat birds, sheep, and swine, greater than 50% of respondents felt that the primary methods current used are appropriate in relation to animal welfare.

In general, respondents seemed to value the areas set forth in the “Five Freedoms” with over 90% specifying agreement with most statements with the exception of 53% agreeing that animals should be able to move freely, 61% agreeing that animals should be free to express the majority of their natural behavior, 845 agreeing that animals should be able to lie down on a “comfortable substrate.” 92% agreed that farmed animals have individual temperaments, 61% believe that farmed animals can experience boredom, 48% agreed that it is important to meet the behavioral needs of farmed animals.

69% of respondents felt that improvements for animal welfare should be made despite increasing production costs.