Attitudes Of Consumers Towards The Welfare Of Farmed Animals

This 2005 Eurobaromenter report examines the attitudes of European Union consumers with respect to a wide range of issues related to farmed animal welfare, finding that the majority of citizens do not take into account animal welfare when buying food and that identifying animal welfare friendly production systems is difficult. However, three quarters of respondents believe that animal welfare can be influenced through their purchasing behavior.

REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS (ABBREVIATED) THE WELFARE OF FARMED ANIMALS

• Knowledge of farms where animals are reared
• Opinion on the protection of farmed animals
• Species to be protected as a priority

PURCHASING BEHAVIOUR AND FARMED ANIMAL WELFARE

• Thinking about animal welfare when purchasing
• Identification of rearing systems
• Buying eggs
• Impact of purchasing behaviour on animal welfare
• Are consumers prepared to pay more for a better welfare for laying hens?

ANIMAL WELFARE AT THE EUROPEAN LEVEL

• Perceptions of existing legislation
  • The transport of farmed animals
  • The slaughter of farmed animals
  • The conditions under which animals are kept on farms
• Comparative perceptions of animal welfare
• The welfare and protection of farmed animals in the European Union

Primary Report Findings

• 68% of EU citizens have visited a farm where animals are reared.
• Visits to farms seem to increase awareness of and concern for animal welfare.
• There is a significant link between the frequency of visits and the acceptance of a price increase.
• There is a negative view of the welfare of laying hens in the majority of EU states.
• The majority of respondents have a positive perception of the welfare and protection of dairy cows.
• Welfare is judged positively by people familiar with the rearing conditions of dairy cows.
• Public opinion is less clear cut on the welfare of pigs.
• A priority is improvement in the welfare of laying hens and broiler chickens.
• 52% of EU respondents either never or very rarely think about the welfare and protection of animals when they buy meat, compared with 43% who consider these issues most or some of the time when purchasing meat.
• 74% think they can influence the welfare of farmed animals by their purchasing behavior.
• 57% are willing to pay more for eggs sourced from an animal welfare friendly production system.
• 57% believe that European legislation exists in the fields of animal transport and slaughter.