Autonomy under contract: the case of traditionalfree-range poultry farmers

Cécile J.M. Adam (), Christian P.M. Ducrot, Mathilde C. Paul and Nicolas Fortané
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Cécile J.M. Adam: Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, UMR 1225, IHAP, 23 chemin des capelles, 31076 Toulouse,France
Christian P.M. Ducrot: EPIA, INRA, VetAgro Sup, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France
Mathilde C. Paul: Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, UMR 1225, IHAP, 23 chemin des capelles, 31076 Toulouse,France
Nicolas Fortané: INRA, UR1323 RiTME 65 boulevard de Brandebourg, 94025 Ivry sur Seine cedex, France

Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, 2017, vol. 98, issue 1-2, 55-74

Abstract: This article explores the autonomy developed by free-range poultryfarmers in their daily work. In this type of livestock production, farmers are linkedby a contract to a farmer organization, to which they sell their broilers in exchangefor a payment resembling a salary. The farmers do have autonomy in their work,whichisframedbyasetofprescriptionsandrules.Astheyexperiencethesameconstraints, farmers involved in the same production mode develop a collectiveidentity. Relationships of confidence progressively develop between the farmersand their technical staff (veterinary practitioners and production technicians).These good relationships strengthen the collective identity while also enablingthe collective work between the three professionals. Veterinary practitioners andproduction technicians consecutively share some of the constraints and transferpart of their decision-making to the farmers. The latter thereby acquire moreautonomy, even in fields apparently out of their reach. We illustrate the latter ideawith the example of antimicrobial use. We observe that while strictly supervisedby veterinary practitioners, farmers nevertheless manage to get involved in thedecision underlying the prescription of antimicrobials.

Keywords: Work.Autonomy.Livestock; farming.Integration.Antimicrobials.Broiler (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:rae:jouraf:v:98:y:2017:i:1-2:p:55-74

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