The relationship between animal welfare and economic performance at farm level: A quantitative study of Danish pig producers

Arne Henningsen, Tomasz Gerard Czekaj (), Björn Forkman (), Mogens Lund () and Aske Schou Nielsen
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Tomasz Gerard Czekaj: Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen
Björn Forkman: Department of Large Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen
Mogens Lund: Division for Food Production and Society, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research
Aske Schou Nielsen: Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen

No 2016/05, IFRO Working Paper from University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics

Abstract: We propose a theoretical framework for the relationship between animal welfare and the economic performance of livestock farms. We empirically analyse this relationship based on a unique data set of randomly sampled Danish pig herds that includes information from unannounced inspections of the compliance with the animal welfare legislation. We find large variations in economic performance indicators and animal welfare indicators. The relationship between these two indicators is rather weak, but tends to be slightly positive. We conclude that management has a major influence on both economic performance and animal welfare so that good farm managers are able to obey all animal welfare regulations and, at the same time, achieve a high economic performance.

Keywords: animal welfare; gross margin; technical efficiency; pig farms; Denmark (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 30 pages
Date: 2016-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-eff
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http://okonomi.foi.dk/workingpapers/WPpdf/WP2016/IFRO_WP_2016_05.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: The Relationship between Animal Welfare and Economic Performance at Farm Level: A Quantitative Study of Danish Pig Producers (2018)
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