Perceptions of the U.S. public regarding precision animal husbandry
This photo shows radio frequency identification (RFID) on a pig farm. (Maselin et al. (2015))
EAST LANSING, MI — A combination of rising labor costs and labor shortages, growing demands to reduce environmental impact, narrow and uncertain profit margins, and growing public concern about how pigs are raised , the pig industry requires innovative solutions. At the same time, we live in a world where there is a disconnect between pig producers and pork consumers, and many people know little about what it takes to raise pigs. This makes it important to understand how the public views changes in agricultural practices before they occur.
For example, would people agree if more technology was used to manage pigs? This could reassure the public that the pork products are being taken care of properly and encourage them to continue purchasing pork products. On the other hand, technology is often seen as unnatural and can even make bacon less appealing. Where will the people fall on this issue? Will they see the use of technology as a better way to care for pigs? Or will they be upset that human-pig contact is replaced by robots and cameras?
To get answers to these questions before pig management techniques are widely adopted, we asked the public how they felt about precision livestock farming (PLF) technology. PLF tools continuously monitor pigs in real-time and provide information (such as whether a pig is sick) and use that information to take action (such as classifying a pig for treatment). It is intended to be executed. PLF technology is rapidly being developed as a solution to address workforce needs and animal welfare issues.
According to research…
In 2023, Michigan State University surveyed 1,227 Americans about their opinions on livestock production, animal welfare, and precision livestock technology. Just over half of the survey participants were women, and the average age of respondents was 50 years. Approximately 17% said they had some experience in livestock farming, and 44% said they had friends or relatives involved in livestock farming. Less than 10% of survey respondents said they felt they knew a lot about livestock production, 6% said they felt they knew a lot about dairy production, and 6% said they felt they knew a lot about pig and pork production. Less than 4% said they knew about processing. Most (90%) said livestock welfare was very important to them and 80% said they were willing to pay a premium to improve livestock welfare.
Does the public believe the hype?
Companies producing PLF and researchers working on this type of technology are considering the many ways PLF could improve the lives of pigs and their caretakers on the farm. To determine whether these positive results resonate with the American public, survey participants identified the various possible benefits of using her PLF for pigs, farmers, pig production, consumers, and the environment. I was asked about. The biggest takeaway from our survey results is that approximately half of survey respondents agree that PLF results in positive outcomes such as reduced production costs, improved pig health, and increased pork production. Please, I wasn't sure.
Will PLF keep farmers away from animals?
Questions have been raised about the potential for PLF to reduce farmers' concern for and care for their animals. Almost 60% of survey respondents were not sure whether this was the case, and 23% did not think that PLF was separating pigs from carers. However, his 19% of Americans who participated in this survey shared this concern, and this concern should be kept in mind if PLF is adopted. One way the disconnect between producers and pigs can be avoided is that PLF frees producers from mundane, repetitive tasks and allows them to spend more time with their pigs and address their unique needs. It's about being able to take care of the pigs you have.
How will PLF affect pork production and prices?
PLF is thought to primarily benefit large commercial farms where individual care of large numbers of pigs by a small number of human caretakers is virtually impossible. The concern surrounding PLF is that these technologies may force producers to house more pigs or at higher densities on the same farm. Approximately 30% of survey respondents felt that the introduction of PLF would lead to increased pork production (i.e. more pigs on more farms), but just over half were unsure about the impact of PLF on pork production. I couldn't have it.
For pork producers, PLF's potential to reduce input and labor costs, thereby reducing pig farming costs, is an important piece of the puzzle when deciding to add technology to the farm. One-third of Americans who participated in this study felt that PLF could lower pork prices, while 57% said they felt PLF had the potential to lower pork prices. I was unsure about giving.
Will PLF improve farmers’ quality of life?
Proponents of PLF often emphasize its ability to simplify and automate daily tasks, make caregivers' jobs easier and safer, and improve their quality of life. Approximately 36% of survey respondents believe that PLF can improve farmers' welfare, but 53% are unsure how PLF will benefit human users. However, improving technology is not the answer for everyone, and his 10% of respondents did not agree that PLF would improve the lives of people working on farms.
Does PLF improve animal health and welfare?
Improving the physical health and overall welfare of pigs using lifelong real-time monitoring are two of the most frequently discussed benefits of PLF. However, only about half of those surveyed felt that PLF actually improved pig health or overall quality of life. Almost half of the participants surveyed were unsure how PLF would affect the health of pigs, but few believed that PLF worsened the health or welfare of pigs.
Will PLF bring farmers and consumers closer together?
PLF could help bridge the gap between farmers and consumers by making it easier to track pork products and create transparent labels. However, most people surveyed (56%) still need to be convinced that this can happen. However, those who agreed that this could be an advantage for PLF (35%) were three times as likely as those who disagreed (9%).
Is PLF environmentally friendly?
Another potential benefit of PLF is that it may reduce the impact of livestock farming on the environment. For example, PLF can support efficient feeding with targeted nutrients, reducing food waste and nutrient runoff. About 47% of Americans agree that PLF may be environmentally friendly, but the same number remain uncertain about the environmental benefits of PLF. Only a few respondents (6%) felt that PLF has a negative impact on the environment.
conclusion
Less than one-fifth of Americans in the study had worked in livestock, and fewer considered themselves knowledgeable about livestock, dairy, pig farming, and pork production. Most of them believed that livestock welfare was important and were willing to pay more for animal products to improve livestock welfare.
The fact that most survey participants were unsure of how PLF benefits pigs, farmers, consumers, and the environment raises questions about how the American public will respond to this type of technology in pig farms. means that it is opaque. Understanding his PLF technology in U.S. pig farms will help Americans understand the measures pig farmers have in place to care for their pigs, comply with regulatory requirements, and address public concerns. maybe. More importantly, openly and honestly respecting and seeking to overcome public concerns related to PLF is key to maintaining trust with those who purchase pork products. Taking advantage of the positive attributes that people feel PLF can bring to farms could be used by the pig industry to increase pork sales if such technology is used on farms. It's a strategy.
For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu.
— Babatope Akinyemi and Janice Siegford, Michigan State University, Department of Animal Science
