A Survey of Broiler Farmers' Perceptions of Animal Welfare and their Technical Efficiency: A Case Study in Northeast China. Issue 3 (3rd July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jo, Hyeonsoo; Nasrullah, Muhammad; Jiang, Bing; Li, Xiang; Bao, Jun
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied animal welfare science. Volume 25:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 275
• Page End: 286
• Publication Date: 2022-07-03
• Subjects: Animal welfare -- broiler -- farmer perception -- stochastic modeling -- technical efficiency; Laboratory animals -- Periodicals; Animal welfare -- Periodicals; 636.0832
• DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2021.1912605
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1088-8705

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to assess the current status of famers' perceptions of animal welfare and technical efficiency in broiler farms using a stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). In this study, 355 farms registered in Heilongjiang Province, China were surveyed, with 240 of them responding. The results showed that 75% of farmers recognize the importance of animal welfare, and 56.3% of them expressed their willingness to implement animal welfare on their farms without conditions or having a negative attitude. The technical efficiency of the farmers' ranged from 55% to 99%. All the variables assessed in this study had a statistical influence on production. Education, experience, and gender of farmers were significant variables and increased efficiency, while age and distance of a farm to the main road increased inefficiency. Based on our survey, we suggest that the implementation of animal welfare measures will require government subsidy or incentive, which could encourage 35% of farmers to implement animal welfare measures. To increase production efficiently, farmer needs to control the mortality rate, but the contribution of vaccine during production is below 1% (0.09%).