Discourses on Positive Animal Welfare by Sheep Farmers and Industry Actors: Implications for Science and Communication
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.UK sheep farmers and industry actors conceptualize positive animal welfare differently than scientists. Findings highlight a need for improved knowledge exchange and practical indicators in animal welfare research.
Area Of Science
- Animal Welfare Science
- Agricultural Sociology
Background
- Contemporary animal welfare science increasingly focuses on 'positive animal welfare,' encompassing optimal physical and psychological well-being.
- Understanding stakeholder perceptions is crucial for effective implementation of animal welfare standards in agriculture.
Purpose Of The Study
- To explore how sheep farmers and industry actors in the United Kingdom (UK) understand and conceptualize 'positive animal welfare.'
- To identify discrepancies between scientific definitions and industry interpretations of positive animal welfare.
Main Methods
- Qualitative research employing snowballing and purposive sampling for participant recruitment.
- Data collection through semi-structured interviews and a facilitated workshop with 25 sheep farmers and 11 industry actors (April 2021-March 2022).
- Thematic analysis of interview and workshop data using a hybrid inductive-deductive coding approach.
Main Results
- Sheep farmers primarily associated positive welfare with 'positive stockmanship' (7 farmers) or the 'Five Freedoms' (6 farmers).
- Industry actors predominantly interpreted positive welfare as high welfare standards beyond minimum requirements (6 actors) and positive mental experiences (3 actors).
- Emerging themes included the influence of self/social identity on welfare perceptions, the significance of knowledge exchange, and the need for practical, rephrased indicators.
Conclusions
- Perceptions of positive animal welfare among UK sheep farmers and industry actors diverge from current academic discourse.
- Effective knowledge dissemination strategies are needed to bridge the gap between scientific concepts and practical application in the UK.
- Rephrasing scientific concepts into practical indicators and fostering knowledge exchange are essential for advancing positive animal welfare initiatives.
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