Response Statistics For Community Action Plan On Animal Welfare And Protection

A statistical summary of the attitudes of Europeans concerning farmed animal welfare.

Respondents were 66% female, 33% male.

Respondents believe that condition of farmed animals within the EU is:

• Very poor (35%)
• Poor (29%)
• Moderate (18%)
• Good (10%)
• Very good (5%)
• Unsure (2%)

Specifically, the results show that respondents feel that the condition of beef cattle, calves, pigs, laying hens, broiler chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits and fur animals are very poor.

When questioned about the need for improvement of animal welfare and protection of farmed animals:

• 78% felt that certainly something should be done
• 10% felt that probably something should be done
• 6% felt probably nothing needed to be done
• 4% felt that definitely nothing needed to be done
• .4% were unsure

“Very important” sources of information on farmed animals were personal experience of visiting farms and information from animal protection organizations.

88% do not believe that food retailers provide enough information on animal welfare conditions from which their products are sourced.

89% would like food labels to be more indicative of the animal welfare conditions the products were sourced from.

91% feel that the EU should promote a greater awareness of animal welfare internationally.

90% do not believe that consumers receive adequate information on the conditions of animal welfare that animals are raised in within the EU.

89% believe that better knowledge of farming practices could influence purchasing decisions.

The factors most highly associated with improved animal welfare conditions include better food safety, better food quality, better animal health and more ethically acceptable food choices.

For farm animal production, the most important factors (>80% classifying very important) are sufficient space to move around, humane transport, humane slaughter, handling by a caring person.