Consumer preferences for alternatives to chick culling in Germany

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Economics
• Consumer Behavior
• Animal Welfare Science

Background:

• Specialized poultry breeds make male layer chicks uneconomical, leading to widespread culling.
• Ethical concerns and public debate are driving the search for alternatives to chick culling.
• Dual-use poultry production and in ovo gender determination are emerging alternatives facing scrutiny.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze German consumer attitudes towards two main alternatives to chick culling: dual-use poultry and in ovo gender determination.
• To identify consumer segments and their preferences regarding egg production methods.
• To provide empirical evidence for diversified egg demand and future poultry production expectations.

Main Methods:

• A discrete choice experiment was conducted with 400 German citizens.
• A latent class model was used to analyze consumer preferences and segment the sample.
• Eggs with varying production attributes, including chick-culling alternatives, were presented to participants.

Main Results:

• Significant heterogeneity in consumer preferences was observed, with five distinct consumer segments identified.
• In ovo gender determination received broad approval across all segments.
• Consumer acceptance of dual-use poultry production is highly dependent on the husbandry conditions for cockerels, with free-range rearing being preferred by 27% of consumers.
• Price sensitivity varied, with one segment prioritizing price and 28% showing no price sensitivity, focusing instead on production attributes.

Conclusions:

• Consumer preferences for egg production methods are diverse, reflecting varied expectations for the future of the poultry industry.
• In ovo gender determination presents a widely acceptable solution to chick culling.
• The ethical and economic viability of dual-use poultry requires careful consideration of cockerel rearing practices, particularly free-range systems.