Dairy farmers’ use and non-use values in animal welfare: Determining the empirical content and structure with anchored best-worst scaling

Abstract

In this study, we sought to identify empirically the types of use and non-use values that motivate dairy farmers in their work relating to animal welfare of dairy cows. We also sought to identify how they prioritize between these use and non-use values. Use values are derived from productivity considerations; non-use values are derived from the wellbeing of the animals, independent of the present or future use the farmer may make of the animal. In particular, we examined the empirical content and structure of the economic value dairy farmers associate with animal welfare of dairy cows. Based on a best-worst scaling approach and data from 123 Swedish dairy farmers, we suggest that the economic value those farmers associate with animal welfare of dairy cows covers aspects of both use and non-use type, with non-use values appearing more important. Using principal component factor analysis, we were able to check unidimensionality of the economic value construct. These findings are useful for understanding why dairy farmers may be interested in considering dairy cow welfare. Such understanding is essential for improving agricultural policy and advice aimed at encouraging dairy farmers to improve animal welfare; communicating to consumers the values under which dairy products are produced; and providing a basis for more realistic assumptions when developing economic models about dairy farmers' behavior.

Factors that Influence Farmers’ Views on Farm Animal Welfare: A Semi-Systematic Review and Thematic Analysis

“…Farmers' approaches to FAW are not just a question of rational and economic choice, attitudes and ethical views should be taken into account to understand their decision-making process [76]. Swedish researchers applied a "use values" and "non-use values" framework to understand the role of farmers' personal evaluations on FAW achievement [11,38,39,75,80]. Non-use values referred to the economic value farmers derived from the welfare of the animals (i.e., economic value not derived from the direct use of the animal) [11,38].…”

“…Swedish researchers applied a "use values" and "non-use values" framework to understand the role of farmers' personal evaluations on FAW achievement [11,38,39,75,80]. Non-use values referred to the economic value farmers derived from the welfare of the animals (i.e., economic value not derived from the direct use of the animal) [11,38]. They showed that non-use values in FAW were important motivational factors underlying dairy farmers' decision making.…”

“…To better explore these aspects, socio-psychological approaches have been implemented since the late eighties [7]. Interdisciplinary studies focusing on farmers' perceptions of FAW have reported that personalities [8], knowledge [9,10], values [11][12][13] economic advantages [9,13,14], communication with their veterinarian and agriculture advisors [10,15,16], time and management influence the perception of FAW.…”

The Relationship between Animal Welfare and Economic Performance at Farm Level: A Quantitative Study of Danish Pig Producers

“…McInerney, 2004) and their marginal willingness to pay for increasing the welfare of their animals depends on their income, then economic performance may have a causal effect on animal welfare. Indeed, Swedish dairy farmers stated that they find it important to make enough profit in order to improve the way their dairy cows are kept (Hansson and Lagerkvist, 2016). Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between animal welfare and economic performance.…”

The Role of Non‐Use Values in Dairy Farmers’ Willingness to Accept a Farm Animal Welfare Programme

“…In addition, they find the elements ‘impression on others’ and ‘product quality’ to be representations of paternalistic‐altruism‐related non‐use values (terminology as in Lagerkvist et al ., ). Hansson and Lagerkvist () used a best–worst scaling approach with 123 Swedish dairy farmers in order to determine the economic value that dairy farmers associate with the animal welfare of dairy cows. The authors found that farmers are especially influenced by non‐use values related to the dairy cows being ‘well kept’ for example.…”