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Measuring the value to the public of pig welfare improvements: a contingent valuation approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

CA Glass ,
WG Hutchinson  and
VE Beattie
CA Glass*
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Food Economics, Queen's University, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, UK
WG Hutchinson
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Food Economics, Queen's University, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, UK
VE Beattie
Affiliation:
Devenish Nutrition Limited, 96 Duncrue Street, Belfast BT3 9AR, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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The welfare of farm animals is a policy area that has increased greatly in importance in recent years. When deciding whether a proposed policy should be implemented, it can be useful for policymakers to compare the costs of the proposed improvement with the perceived benefits. The costs are relatively straightforward to calculate but little is known about the benefits. The Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), a direct survey-based method, can be used to shed some light on this. This approach elicits the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the provision of some public good or service. This paper reports the results of a contingent valuation study of the value of welfare improvements for growing pigs. Attitudes and opinions with regard to farm animal welfare are explored and WTP elicited for various pig welfare improvements including increases in space allowance, environmental enrichment and research into improved pig housing design. The results reveal a positive WTP for these improvements. However, it is also noteworthy that a significant proportion of the general public is willing to pay nothing for these improvements. Overall, the study illustrates the usefulness of the CVM approach as a tool for policymakers in assessing the merits of possible policy initiatives affecting the welfare of animals.

Keywords

animal welfarecontingent valuationpigsspike modelssubstitution effectswillingness-to-pay
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 14 , Issue 1 , February 2005 , pp. 61 - 69
Copyright
© 2005 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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