Consumers' Opinions and Expectations of an “Ideal Chicken Farm” and Their Willingness to Purchase a Whole Chicken From This Farm

Abstract

As poultry production and consumption have increased in the last decade, so have consumers' concerns about intensified production methods and the impacts they have on animal welfare. At the same time, poultry consumption has increased and enjoys great popularity. Also, a shift in consumers' consumption behavior can be observed as nowadays most consumers purchase chicken cuts, especially breast filets, rather than whole animals, mostly due to convenience and taste. Although consumer concerns have increased, market shares of alternative poultry products, i.e., those that are produced under higher standards compared to conventional products, remain comparably low. One of the main reasons are the large differences in prices. The higher prices for alternative chicken products such as organic result partly from increased production costs on farm level. Besides, consumer preferences for chicken cuts intensify cost differences. While alternative chicken breasts (e.g., organically produced) might be valued by some consumers, other cuts such as wings or thighs are not and are therefore sent into the conventional market. In these cases, the breasts need to remunerate all additional costs. Analyzing consumers' concerns about production methods and learning about consumers' obstacles to buy whole chickens might offer farmers greater possibilities to succeed in alternative markets. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to gain insights into consumers' chicken consumption behaviors, how consumers imagine an ideal chicken farm and whether they would be willing to purchase a whole chicken from this ideal farm. Three focus group discussions (total n = 30) with German consumers were held online in June 2020. The results show that participants associate the ideal chicken farm with four main characteristics: good husbandry system, positive economic impact for the farmer, high transparency, and proximate location of the farm in the same geographical region. However, willingness to purchase a whole chicken, even from the ideal farm, remains low due to mainly convenience reasons and daily routines.

Adaptability Challenges for Organic Broiler Chickens: A Commentary

“…A study, carried out on a group of consumers, asked for the definition of the “ideal chicken farm” and showed that 27% of the participants mentioned that the ideal chicken farm should use regional feedstuff, preferably grown on the same farm. Although most participants were not aware of what feedstuff is fed to chickens, 23% of the participants highlighted that the feedstuff used should “not be imported”, “not come from South America”, and “not be genetically modified” [ 4 ]. Except for the availability of corn and soybean, where the EU is dependent on imports and is far from self-sufficient, organic production is almost entirely faced with these expectations.…”

“…In organic poultry farming, the feed covers an important role, as the dietary requirements of poultry are very specific and different from those of ruminants [ 4 ]. Poultry meat production is strictly tied to feed quality, because broilers grow quickly and have specific requirements for energy and essential amino acids (EAAs).…”

“…It is well-known that in many countries consumers are giving more importance to ethical issues, such as animal welfare, animals’ quality of life, and positive experiences for animals. Consumers usually associate housing conditions with animal welfare [ 4 , 63 ], and when thinking about positive animal welfare they think of small farms with animals living outdoors in a natural environment [ 63 ]. The “Ideal Chicken Farm”, as described in the focus group discussion described by Escobedo del Bosque et al [ 4 ], is a free-range farm with chickens walking with ample space on green pasture.…”

“…Consumers usually associate housing conditions with animal welfare [ 4 , 63 ], and when thinking about positive animal welfare they think of small farms with animals living outdoors in a natural environment [ 63 ]. The “Ideal Chicken Farm”, as described in the focus group discussion described by Escobedo del Bosque et al [ 4 ], is a free-range farm with chickens walking with ample space on green pasture. In this view, organic poultry farming strongly meets these expectations, because OPP uses open areas and lower chicken density.…”

“…Organic poultry shows the same increasing trend: EU poultry farms certified as organic rose from 3% in 2017 to 8% in 2019. In addition, organic poultry production is expected to further increase [ 4 ] as an alternative to conventional poultry production.…”