Italian pig producers' attitude toward animal welfare
2007
Menghi, Alberto
Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to explore the attitude of pig farmers toward animal welfare in light of the state-of-the-art legislation on animal welfare and production schemes in Italy. Design/methodology/approach -- The general framework regarding pig production, legislation and production schemes will be described by a literature review and personal communications from experts in the field. The results of farmers' attitudes toward animal welfare are based on a survey carried out among pig producers. Findings -- The main findings of the research are related to the survey results among pig producers. The paper presents a short description of the Italian pig sector and the results of the animal welfare legislation and production schemes. Research limitations/implications -- The main limitation of the study is the relatively limited number of survey interviews. For this reason the sample cannot be considered statistically representative of the whole country. Practical implications -- The information collected in this article could represent a useful source for farmers, policy makers, and retailers, as well as consumers interested in animal welfare issues. Originality/value -- This is the first time that pig producers have been asked to express their opinion on animal welfare as defined by the legislation in force and the existing production schemes.
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