Ethical issues in poultry production - Datasets from a German consumer survey

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Economics
• Animal Welfare Science
• Consumer Behavior

Background:

• The ethical implications of killing day-old chicks in poultry production are a significant societal concern.
• Consumer perspectives are crucial for understanding acceptance of alternative practices in chicken farming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate consumer attitudes regarding the killing of day-old chicks.
• To assess consumer perceptions of animal welfare in chicken production.
• To evaluate the potential of dual-purpose chickens as an alternative to current practices.

Main Methods:

• A standardized survey of 1000 German consumers conducted via telephone interviews in spring 2016.
• Analysis included cluster analysis to categorize consumers based on purchasing criteria for dual-purpose chicken products.
• Socio-demographic variables were used to characterize identified consumer segments.

Main Results:

• The survey gathered data on consumer purchasing patterns, animal welfare perceptions, and knowledge of chick culling.
• Attitudes towards dual-purpose chickens and their role in mitigating chick culling were explored.
• Cluster analysis identified distinct consumer categories based on their criteria for purchasing dual-purpose chicken products.

Conclusions:

• Understanding consumer attitudes is vital for addressing ethical challenges in the poultry industry.
• Dual-purpose chickens present a potential alternative to the killing of day-old chicks, with varying consumer acceptance.
• The study provides data to inform stakeholders on consumer preferences and ethical considerations in chicken production.