| 1. |
- Ahmed, Haseeb, et al.
(författare)
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Animal welfare efforts and farm economic outcomes: Evidence from Swedish beef production
- 2023
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Ingår i: Agricultural and Resource Economics Review. - 1068-2805. ; 52, s. 498-519
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We estimate the relationship between farm animal welfare (FAW) efforts taken by beef farmers and the economic performance of beef farms by using farm accounting data from the Swedish Farm Economic Survey matched with survey data on farm management practices. To this end, we perform a two-step analysis. First, an item response theory (IRT) model estimates the latent FAW effort on farms. FAW effort likely depends on a host of complementary FAW-improving strategies, and the IRT model combines the considered strategies into a unidimensional scale. We take this to represent on-farm FAW effort. Second, we use instrumental variable regressions to estimate the relationship between FAW effort and multiple measures of farm economic performance. We find that higher FAW effort scores have no effect on margins and costs. However, higher FAW effort scores are associated with lower farm sales. Findings suggest that policies (such as targeted label for high FAW) that increase farm revenue as well as incentivize the uptake of FAW-improvement practices may be able to compensate farmers for their FAW effort.
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| 2. |
- Ahmed, Haseeb, et al.
(författare)
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Assessing Animal Welfare and Farm Profitability in Cow-Calf Operations with Stochastic Partial Budgeting
- 2021
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Ingår i: Animals. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-2615. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Simple SummaryThe increased consumer demand for high levels of farm animal welfare (FAW) have prompted debates about the costs of achieving higher FAW. Yet, little is known about the economic consequences of improvements in FAW, especially in cow-calf operations. This study contributes to the literature by investigating the relationship between farm profitability and improved FAW measure in terms of increased space allowance in Swedish cow-calf operations. We found that a 0.5 m(2) increase in space allowance per calf (achieved by a corresponding reduction of herd size) was associated with a 6.9 to 18.7% reduction in farm-level contribution margins in the short term. Our results suggest that FAW improvements can be costly for farms and these costs should be considered while taking policy decisions regarding improvements in FAW standards.The societal demand for good farm animal welfare (FAW) has increased over time. Yet, very little is known about the economic consequences of improvements in FAW in cow-calf operations. This study investigates on-farm economic consequences of improved FAW measures in cow-calf operations. It uses a stochastic partial budgeting approach to examine the relationship between contribution margins and improvements in FAW in terms of increased space allowance for a typical Swedish cow-calf operation, as compared to current practices. In the current practice, a cow should be given at least 5 m(2) and the calf 2.2 m(2). We found that a 0.5 m(2) increase in space allowance per calf (achieved by a corresponding reduction of herd size) was associated with a 6.9 to 18.7% reduction in contribution margins in the short term. Our analysis does not include possible indirect gains like decrease in disease incidence and enhanced non-use or 'soft' values associated with increased FAW. However, our analysis indicates that high FAW standards can be costly and careful cost-benefit analysis should be a part of decision-making processes regarding FAW standards. Our results also suggest a need for government support payments and/or the development of market mechanisms to stimulate farmers to continue producing livestock-based foods with high FAW.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Ahmed, Haseeb, et al.
(författare)
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Assessing economic consequences of improved animal welfare in Swedish cattle fattening operations using a stochastic partial budgeting approach
- 2020
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Ingår i: Livestock Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1871-1413 .- 1878-0490. ; 232
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is an increased concern among many stakeholders in society that livestock production systems provide a low-quality life to the animals and therefore advocate improved farm animal welfare (FAW). On the other hand, producers are concerned that stricter welfare regulations would decrease their profits and hence their competitiveness. Given the relevance of the debate surrounding FAW especially in Sweden, and the lack of studies related to the beef sector, this study examined the impact of changes in FAW practices on economic performance of Swedish beef fattening operations. We modelled a herd of 50 cattle of either beef or dairy breed reared for meat production to examine the impact of increased space allowance, including a corresponding decrease in herd size, and increased forage-to-concentrate (FC) ratio. We found that a 1-m(2)/animal increase in space allowance was associated with a decrease of 18.9 and 10.8% in short-run, per animal profits in beef and dairy breeds, respectively. Sensitivity analysis suggested that an increase in weight gain and short-run loss in herd size due to increased space allowance were the most important factors. We estimated that an increase in the FC ratio from 40:60 to 65:35 was associated with a reduction in per animal profits of about 21 to 34% in beef breeds and 17 to 53% in dairy breeds, respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicated that reduced growth due to increased FC ratio was the most important factor. Our results suggest that an increase in space allowance or FC ratio in Swedish beef fattening operations may reduce farm profitability. They also imply that consequences of any policy instrument should be carefully examined to reach the goal of improved FAW along with improved profitability and sustainability for the farmer.
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| 5. |
- Ahmed, Haseeb, et al.
(författare)
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Costs and benefits of good animal welfare - for animals, farmers and society
- 2022
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Society’s demand for good animal welfare has led to discussions about the costs of achieving and maintaining one. This is relevant to Swedish animalbased food production, because producers in Sweden in many respects have stricter requirements than farmers in other countries. They therefore face competition from imported foods produced under less strict animal welfare regulations. At the same time, good animal welfare can have a value in itself and can provide benefits for animals, farmers and society.
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| 6. |
- Ahmed, Haseeb, et al.
(författare)
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Kostnader och vinster med gott djurskydd : för djur, lantbrukare och samhälle
- 2022
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Annan publikation (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Samhällets krav på god djurvälfärd har lett till diskussioner om kostnaderna för att uppnå och upprätthålla en sådan. Detta är relevant för svensk djurbaserad livsmedelsproduktion, eftersom producenter i Sverige i många avseenden har hårdare krav än i andra länder. De möter därför konkurrens från importerade livsmedel som producerats med mindre strikta djurskyddsbestämmelser. Samtidigt kan gott djurskydd ha ett värde i sig och ge fördelar för djur, lantbrukare och samhälle.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Alanärä, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Utsättning av djur för jakt och fiske
- 2021
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Bok (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- SLUs vetenskapliga råd för djurskydd har fått i uppdrag av Jordbruksverket att sammanställa aktuell forskning kring utsättning av djur för jakt och fiske samt att belysa eventuella kunskapsluckor på området. Uppdraget omfattar gräsand, rapphöna, fasan och laxfiskar. Bruket att föda upp fåglar och fiskar för utsättning i syfte att gynna jakt och fiske ifrågasätts inte sällan av etiska skäl, men den diskussionen ligger utanför fokus för denna rapport. Utsättning av fågel och fisk är en antropogen verksamhet som, till skillnad från många andra typer av mänsklig påverkan, syftar till att gynna arterna i fråga. Det kan handla om naturvårdsinsatser, att återinföra försvunna arter eller att på andra sätt berika ekosystemet, inte sällan med ökade möjligheter till jakt eller fiske som slutändamål. Ofta förbereds och åtföljs utsättningar av habitatförbättrande åtgärder som inte endast gynnar de utsatta individerna och deras artfränder, utan även har positiva konsekvenser för biologisk mångfald och ekosystemet i stort. I utarbetandet av regelverket knutet till utsättning av fågel och fisk är det viktigt att även beakta de positiva föresatserna och de konsekvenser som verksamheten kan medföra. Annars riskerar man att engagemang och incitament förloras, till men för biologisk mångfald och en rik och levande landsbygd.
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| 9. |
- Algers, Anne, et al.
(författare)
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Animal welfare at slaughter – A social learning process
- 2015
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Animal welfare is of high interest to citizens and consumers. Furthermore, animal welfare at slaughter is an area covered by extensive legislation at the EU level, mainly through EC Regulation 1099/2009 which requires training and certificate of competence for slaughterhouse staff. Dealing with complex issues with ethical concerns, such as animal welfare, requires a process of learning by every member of society. Such learning must also continue throughout life, as an ongoing adaptation to emerging challenges and new scientific findings. This can best be achieved when the learning is based on curiosity, collaboration, and grounded in real-life experience and situations. Such social interactions constitute the basis for social learning. Thus, animal welfare is in need of a social learning process. The use of Open Educational Resources (OER) is a way to meet the challenge of this new learning approach. The term (OER), meaning digital material released with an intellectual property license that allows for free use, adaptation, and distribution, was adopted at a UNESCO meeting in 2002. OER can be used for both formal and informal learning. The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has, with financial support from the national authorities and in collaboration with slaughterhouses and NGO’s, developed an OER on Animal Welfare at Slaughter and Killing. It includes 650 webpages, 800 illustrations, 150 video clips, learning objectives, interactivities and take-home messages. Publishing photos and video footage showing slaughter is not uncontroversial as such pictures can be perceived as aversive by some, and the umbrella organisations for slaughter houses feared that such pictures would be used by animal rights groups to discredit abattoirs. Hence, placing the material behind a password barrier was suggested. However, the aim is to provide free access to everybody to the knowledge we have today about animal welfare in relation to handling of animals at slaughter and killing and to support local efforts in improving animal welfare. The material is now available at disa.slu.se and can be accessed and used by anyone, including various course organizers. A translation into English is underway. With reference to the wisdom of the crowd it can be argued that collectively developed resources are of higher quality than those the individual can develop on their own. OER practices, in its more radical form, can be seen as an integrated, open and formative peer review, conducted in real time in front of the eyes of anybody interested.
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| 10. |
- Algers, Anne, 1961, et al.
(författare)
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Open Knowledge about Slaughter on the Internet-A Case Study on Controversies.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-2615. ; 7:12, s. 1-11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Knowledge about slaughter of animals for human food is often perceived as controversial and therefore not made widely available. An open educational resource on the Internet about the slaughter of animals has created tension at launch but also resolved tension. Aiming to explore how this resource at the boundary between academia and society is perceived, a study was carried out with participants from slaughterhouses, universities, authorities and NGOs. Focus group sessions were video recorded and transcripts were coded using an interpretive thematic analysis. The results show that an open educational resource in addition to contributing to learning and awareness raising can also induce dialogue (and thus resolve tension) about animal welfare and contribute to animal welfare resilience. Our results also indicate that participants had diverse opinions about the influence of multimedia on attitudes towards animal slaughter. The use of additional instruments such as comment fields may lead to more knowledgeable citizens and socially robust knowledge, but has to be carefully weighed against the risk of false or fake data.
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