Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Indications on poor understanding for the animal producers situation from the inspectors of animal welfare control have been seen in papers from farmers interest organizations. The aim of this study was to investigate what farmers view is on the animal welfare inspections done by regional Swedish authorities as well as the animal welfare inspectors work. The study investigated whether or not there were any differences between different counties in Sweden. There were also questions asked to see what animal producers thought could change in the animal welfare inspectors work so it would benefit them. The study was conducted using a telephone interview questionnaire. Answers from 36 animal producers were gathered from four different counties; Skåne, Halland, Dalarna and Östergötland.

The main results were that more than half of the animal producers are of the opinion that animal welfare inspectors have inadequate experience of practical work with farm animals. It was also shown that animal producers find that animal welfare inspector have a better theoretical knowledge of animals and animal welfare legislation than they have of practical experience with animals. The animal producers in the study seem to be satisfied with how animal welfare inspectors treated them when they were conducting the animal welfare inspection. Some of the animal producers thought that the animal welfare inspections need to be more standardized between different inspectors and between the different counties. Similar views were shown in a study by Anneberg et al. (2012) were farmers request a control system which is objective and judge different farms on the same scale in the same way. There were some differences between the four different counties that were investigated in the study, but more data needs to be collected to make general conclusions.

Scientific research in the field of animal producers views of animal welfare inspections and the work of animal welfare inspectors work is inadequate and further studies should be considered necessary. A deeper knowledge in this area would contribute to an improved relationship between animal producers and animal welfare inspectors.