scholarly journals Embedding animal welfare in sustainability assessment: an indicator approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Brennan ◽  
T. Hennessy ◽  
E. Dillon
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Farm Accountancy Data Network ◽  
The Impact

In line with growing consumer interest in sustainable food production, a number of farm-level sustainability indicator studies have been published in recent years. Despite the importance of animal welfare, many such frameworks fail to adequately take account of it, mostly due to difficulties in accessing suitable data. This paper demonstrates that it is possible to develop indicators of animal welfare that can be embedded within a wider sustainability framework using a representative farm-level dataset such as the European Union (EU) Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) for Ireland, the Teagasc National Farm Survey. The paper presents a set of sustainability indicators for dairy farms in Ireland for the 2014–2017 period and examines the impact of policy reform on sustainability performance. Headline results show that welfare standards on dairy farms in Ireland have remained stable over the period despite the considerable intensification of the dairy sector following EU milk quota removal. Furthermore, dairy farms that have expanded herd size significantly have improved welfare standards more than farms that have not increased production. An analysis of synergies and trade-offs between the various aspects of sustainability reveals that positive correlations exist between welfare standards and economic and environmental performance. The analysis facilitates the identification of win-win farm-level strategies that can be adopted to improve economic, environmental and animal welfare outcomes. The framework developed here presents opportunities for evaluating policy impacts at the farm level on various aspects of sustainability. The use of the FADN demonstrates the capacity to extend such an approach across the EU.

scholarly journals Impacts of Reducing UK Beef Consumption Using a Revised Sustainable Diets Framework

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 6863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chalmers ◽  
Stetkiewicz ◽  
Sudhakar ◽  
Osei-Kwasi ◽  
Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Policy Issue ◽  
Sustainable Food Systems ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Nutrient Adequacy ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

The impact of beef consumption on sustainability is a complex and evolving area, as sustainability covers many areas from human nutrient adequacy to ecosystem stability. Three sustainability assessment frameworks have been created to help policy makers unpack the complexities of sustainable food systems and healthy sustainable dietary change. However, none of these frameworks have yet to be applied to a case study or individual policy issue. This paper uses a hybrid version of the sustainability assessment frameworks to investigate the impact of reducing beef consumption (with a concurrent increase in consumption of plant-based foods, with a focus on legumes) on sustainability at a UK level. The aim of this paper is to understand the applicability of these overarching frameworks at the scale of an individual policy. Such an assessment is important, as this application of previously high-level frameworks to individual policies makes it possible to summarise, at a glance, the various co-benefits and trade-offs associated with a given policy, which may be of particular value in terms of stakeholder decision-making. We find that many of the proposed metrics found within the sustainability assessment frameworks are difficult to implement at an individual issue level; however, overall they show that a reduction in beef consumption and an increase in consumption of general plant-based foods, with a focus around legumes production, would be expected to be strongly beneficial in five of the eight overarching measures which were assessed.

scholarly journals Financial Ratios as Indicators of Economic Sustainability: A Quantitative Analysis for Swiss Dairy Farms

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Zorn ◽  
Michele Esteves ◽  
Ivo Baur ◽  
Markus Lips
Keyword(s):  
Correlation Analysis ◽  
North American ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Financial Ratios ◽  
Economic Sustainability ◽  
Financial Indicators ◽  
Farm Accountancy Data Network ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Sustainability Assessments

In agriculture, a rising number of sustainability assessments are available that also comprise financial ratios. In a literature review of farm management textbooks, taking account of the differences between European and North American practices and considering prevalent sustainability assessment approaches, we identified frequently used financial ratios. Five ratios relate to the indicator profitability and four to the indicator liquidity. Another eight financial indicators refer to the indicators financial efficiency, stability, solvency and repayment capacity. Based on more than 14,000 accountancies of dairy farms from the Swiss Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), we carried out a Spearman correlation analysis for normalised and harmonised financial ratios. The correlation analysis revealed mostly positive correlations. To assess the implementation of a quantitative economic sustainability assessment we compare an aggregated indicator compound of all 17 ratios with two selections of financial ratios–first, a compound European and, second, a compound North American economic sustainability indicator. The correlation between the complete and the reduced sets of indicators suggest that both aggregate economic indicators can be reasonably applied to estimate the economic sustainability for Swiss dairy farms.

scholarly journals Medium Term Analysis of Technical and Allocative Efficiency in Romanian Farms Using FADN Dataset

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Nicola GALLUZZO
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Allocative Efficiency ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Data Network ◽  
Rural Space ◽  
Annual Survey ◽  
Farm Accountancy Data Network ◽  
Agricultural Areas ◽  
The Impact

The Farm Accountancy Data Network is an annual survey proposed by the European Union in order to estimate the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy on farmers. Lots of scholars have investigated the technical, economical and allocative efficiency using a non parametric approach such as the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in Romanian farms throughout the Farm Accountancy Data Network dataset pointing out poor levels of technical efficiency, which were lower than the average European value. The purpose of this study was to assess using DEA approach technical, economic and allocative efficiency in Romanian farms part of the FADN dataset over six year time from 2007 to 2012. Findings pointed out an increase of technical efficiency compared to previous studies, as a consequence of a significant turn over of a younger high skill and qualified farmers generation. Poor land capital, in terms of utilized agricultural areas, connected to an increase of new technologies, was the downside of Romanian farms and this implied that the National Rural Development Plan should  have taken into account financial subsides in order to implement agricultural areas scattered in Romanian rural space. 

Trade-offs between indicators of performance and sustainability in breeding suckler beef herds

2016 ◽  
Vol 155 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-170
Author(s):  
B. VOSOUGH AHMADI ◽  
M. NATH ◽  
J. J. HYSLOP ◽  
C. A. MORGAN ◽  
A. W. STOTT
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Statistical Models ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Cattle Herds ◽  
Three Body ◽  
Calving Difficulty ◽  
Beef Suckler

SUMMARYManagement of beef suckler cattle herds requires a difficult but vitally important balance between farm profits, animal health and welfare and sustainable food production. A dynamic programming (DP) model was implemented to investigate the consequences of replacement and management decisions on the interactions and possible trade-offs between animal welfare, fertility and profitability in breeding beef suckler cattle herds. The model maximized profit from the current cow and all successors by identifying the best keep/replace decision. The 150 states incorporated in the DP model were all combinations of: ten cow-parity, five calving periods including one barren state (five in total) as fertility indicators and three body condition scores at weaning as an animal welfare indicator reflecting feeding and nutritional conditions of animals. Statistical models were fitted to data from a breeding suckler cattle herd, consisting of performance records of 200 cattle over 5 years, to parameterize the DP model. Estimated parameters used in the DP model were: (i) probabilities of transitions between states and (ii) probability of involuntary culling. These estimates were used in the form of conditional probabilities of successful or failed (as a result of involuntary culling) transitions to the next state. In addition, statistical models were used to estimate probability of calving difficulty. There was strong evidence (P<0·001) that parity affected calving difficulty and weak evidence (P= 0·067) that parity affected the incidence of involuntary culling. The DP model outcomes indicated that cows calving very early, i.e. those who conceived in the first 21 days after artificial insemination, showed reduced frequencies of calving difficulty as well as voluntary culling, and so gave better financial returns than late-calving cows and barren cows. As a result, fewer replacements were needed that reduced the frequency of calving difficulty, further implying a win–win scenario for both profit and welfare. In contrast, in late-calving animals, the frequency of calving difficulty increased and they were less profitable and more prone to be culled. Results of sensitivity analysis showed that the optimum voluntary culling rate was sensitive to commodity market prices. These findings suggest well-informed nutrition and reproduction management could deliver a win–win outcome for profit and animal welfare.

Farm-level evidence on risk balancing behavior in the EU-15

2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yann de Mey ◽  
Frankwin van Winsen ◽  
Erwin Wauters ◽  
Mark Vancauteren ◽  
Ludwig Lauwers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Correlation Relationship ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Relationship Analysis ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Fixed Effects Regression

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present empirical evidence of risk balancing behavior by European farmers. More specifically, the authors investigate strategic adjustments in the level of financial risk (FR) in response to changes in the level of business risk (BR). Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a correlation relationship analysis and run several linear fixed effects regression models using the European Union (EU)-15 FADN panel data set for the period 1995-2008. Findings – Overall, the paper finds EU evidence of risk balancing. The correlation relationship analysis suggests that just over half of the farm observations are risk balancers whereas the other (smaller) half are not. The coefficient in our fixed effects regression suggests that a 1 percent increase in BR reduces FR by 0.043 percent and has a standard error so low that the existence of non-risk balancers is doubtful. The results reject evidence of strong-form risk balancing – inverse trade-offs between FR and BR keeping total risk (TR) constant – but cannot reject weak-form risk balancing – inverse trade-offs between FR and BR with some observed changes in TR. Furthermore, the extent of risk balancing behavior is found to differ between different European countries and across farm typologies. Practical implications – This study provides European policy makers a first insight into risk balancing behavior of EU farmers. When risk balancing occurs, BR-reducing agricultural policies induce strategic upwards leverage adjustments that unintentionally reestablish or even increase total farm-level risk. Originality/value – Making use of the large and unique FADN database, to the best of the authors knowledge, this study is the first that provides European (EU-15) evidence on risk balancing behavior, is conducted at an unprecedented large scale, and presents the first risk balancing evidence across countries and farming systems.

scholarly journals Comparing welfare indicators in dairy cattle under different loose housing systems (deep litter vs cubicle barns) using recycled manure solids for bedding

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. e0501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Molina ◽  
Estrella I. Agüera ◽  
Carlos C. Pérez-Marín ◽  
Francisco Maroto-Molina
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Welfare Assessment ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Welfare Quality ◽  
The Impact

Aim of study: Dairy farmers in Southern Spain are continuously investing in the modernization of their facilities and frequently ask technicians about the type of housing they should choose for their farms. Although some studies have analysed the economic impact of different housing systems, there are no reports evaluating the impact of these systems on animal wellbeing. To remedy this deficit, a study was carried out to analyse animal welfare status in two types of loose housing conditions: deep litter (DL) and cubicle (CU) barns.Area of study: This study was conducted in Cordoba (Spain).Material and methods: A total of 1,597 cows from nineteen commercial dairy farms were involved in this study, of which twelve had CU barns and seven had DL barns. Welfare Quality assessment was used to evaluate animal wellbeing, inn order to compare both housing systems.Main results: The study found some weaknesses for feeding and health indicators of animal welfare in both types of housing systems. The overall welfare assessment based on feeding, housing and health indicators showed no differences between farms with DL or CU barns.Research highlights: A good welfare status could be reached under any type of housing system.

scholarly journals Animals and the Impact of Trade Law and Policy: A Global Animal Law Question

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-262
Author(s):  
Iyan Offor
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
International Trade ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Animal Law ◽  
Trade Law ◽  
International Trade Law ◽  
Law And Policy ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThere is a critical research gap regarding the trade and animal welfare interface: we do not know, empirically, what the impact of trade on animal welfare is. This gap exists, in part, as a result of the paternalism of international trade law and the underdevelopment of global animal law. This article addresses, firstly, the collision of dichotomous trade and animal welfare priorities in legal and political systems. It then explores attempts at reconciliation by the World Trade Organization and the European Union. This involves an investigation of the impact of trade on animal welfare. This impact is categorized into four component parts: (i) open markets, (ii) low animal-welfare havens, (iii) a chilling effect, and (iv) lack of labelling. Case studies from the European Union are examined. Thirdly, the article critiques trade law and policy as ill-suited primary drivers of global governance for animals. Global animal law is identified as a promising alternative, although its early development has been unduly affected by international trade law.

scholarly journals The Relationship of Agricultural and Non-Agricultural Income and Its Variability in Regard to Farms in the European Union Countries

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 196
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Smędzik-Ambroży ◽  
Anna Matuszczak ◽  
Ryszard Kata ◽  
Piotr Kułyk
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Production Volume ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Family Farms ◽  
Eu Countries ◽  
Agricultural Income ◽  
Production Values ◽  
Farm Accountancy Data Network ◽  
The Impact

Many authors emphasize that reducing the income deprivation of the agricultural sector in relation to the non-agricultural sectors is a prerequisite to the growth of sustainability of agriculture. Thus, this raises the question: despite the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on the value of agricultural income in EU countries, is there still income deprivation for agriculture in relation to non-agricultural sectors? If so, is its depth comparable among farms with a different scale of production from the same EU country or among farms with the same scale of production from different countries? The answers to these questions constitute the added value of the article. The aim of the paper is to compare the ratio of agricultural income to non-agricultural income in regard to family farms in EU countries. Results show that the CAP solutions do limit the agricultural income disparities but that there are significant differences in the income deprivation of farms with different production values in the same country. These differences also apply to farms with a similar production volume in different countries. This publication includes critical analysis of literature, spatial-analysis and panel regression. The time scale of the research is 2004–2017, the spatial scope is individual EU countries and the subjective scope is representative EU Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) farms.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Dairy Farms’ Competitiveness

2003 ◽  
pp. 256-260
Author(s):  
József Horváth
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
The Eu

The volume of milk production in the European Union is limited by quotas, thus dairy farms in Hungary can expand their production mostly at the others’ expenses after joining. In this way issues of arrangements arise relating to defining competitiveness of the already existing farms and not to farming new ones. The aims of my research is to find answers for dairy farms in the County of Hajdu-Bihar, depending on their arrangement (herd size, keeping technology, arable for forage production, handling manure, mechanisation, technician state of equipment) what possibilities they will have among the EU farmers.

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