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A formal model for assessing the economic impact of animal welfare improvements at bovine and porcine slaughter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

J Jerlström ,
C Berg ,
AH Karlsson ,
A Wallenbeck  and
H Hansson
J Jerlström*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 234, 532 23 Skara, Sweden
C Berg
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 234, 532 23 Skara, Sweden
AH Karlsson
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 234, 532 23 Skara, Sweden
A Wallenbeck
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 234, 532 23 Skara, Sweden
H Hansson
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, Faculty of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7013, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
*
* Contact for correspondence: josefine.jerlstrom@slu.se
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Abstract

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The relationship between animal welfare at slaughter and slaughterhouse profitability is complex, with potential trade-offs between animal welfare costs and benefits. Slaughterhouses currently lack data support for decisions on investments that can improve both animal welfare and profitability. Therefore, this study mapped the economic impacts for slaughterhouse businesses of improved cattle and pig welfare at slaughter. Specific aims were to: (i) highlight the possible economic impact of animal welfare improvements, based on the scientific literature; (ii) develop an economic model demonstrating the theoretical contribution of animal welfare to slaughterhouse profitability; and (iii) validate the economic model through focus group interviews with slaughterhouse personnel in Sweden. The findings indicated that investing in animal welfare improvements could result in accumulation of an intangible asset that can be considered together with other production factors in the economic model. Model validation stressed the importance of selling by-products for the economic outcome and of smooth workflow for productivity. The study thus improves understanding of the economic impacts of animal welfare at slaughter and incentives for slaughterhouse businesses to improve animal welfare. The results are important for public and private policy-makers interested in enhancing animal welfare at slaughter.

Keywords

abattoiranimal welfarecattleeconomic impactpigsprofitability
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 31 , Issue 3 , August 2022 , pp. 361 - 371
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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