Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Farmers are one of the key contributors to successfully improving the implementation of farm animal welfare regulations. In Sweden, the County Administrative Board (CAB) is responsible for ensuring that the animal welfare legislation is complied with by performing official animal welfare inspections. In a previous study, it emerged that many Swedish dairy farmers would turn to their veterinarian for information about the animal welfare control. This study investigated how often Swedish clinical veterinarians are asked questions about the official animal welfare control and the animal welfare legislation when visiting farmers and horse keeper on their premises for treatment or counselling. The study also investigated veterinarians’ experiences and handling of questions related to animal welfare legislation and official control. An electronic questionnaire was developed and answered by 130 veterinarians during spring 2023. Additionally, 9 interviews were performed. The result showed that the respondents in general received questions about the legislation and the control at occasional farm visits, mainly before inspections and around slaughter. The respondents also got questions at occasional farm visits on what applies according to the legislation. Working with pigs as a veterinarian was related to receiving the most questions, while working with horses was related to receiving the least questions. Most veterinarians reported a greater knowledge of the legislation than of the control, and stated that knowledge in these areas mainly has come through further education after the veterinary education. Further, they reported a better impression of the legislation and its content than of the control and how it is carried out, which was related to how they handle questions concerning inspections. The result in the study reflects a feeling of farmers and horse keepers having great trust in veterinarians, which contributes to veterinarians having a considerable part in the discussions around legislation and control. Many veterinarians called for better cooperation with the CAB, which should be considered as it can increase veterinarians’ knowledge and preparedness to handle questions about the control.