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.

Keywords

animal welfare of dairy cow; best-worst scaling; economic value in animal welfare; non-use value; use value

Published in

Journal of Dairy Science
2016, volume: 99, number: 1, pages: 579–592

SLU Authors

• Hansson, Helena

  • Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lagerkvist, Carl-Johan

  • Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG2 Zero hunger

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Business Administration
Economics

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-9755

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/69274