Farm Animal Welfare Trend in Japan

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  • 家畜福祉に関する意識調査
  • カチク フクシ ニ カンスル イシキ チョウサ

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Abstract

To investigate animal welfare trends among the general public, we issued a questionnaire to 595 Japanese. There was a range of ages and jobs. People were asked if killing, acute ill-treatment, or chronic ill-treatment should be permitted for domestic animals or chickens, experimental animals and pet animals. One to five grade-points (the higher the points the more tolerable) were chosen in each of 38 inquiries. In addition to interpreting approval or disapproval for each inquiry, points were treated by principal component analysis and least-squares analysis. Killing and acute stress for eating or medical research were most tolerable. Ill-treatment for fun or with selfishness were most intolerable. First, second and third principle components were estimated as 'common sympathy to animals', 'tolerance to cruelty as fun', and 'intolerance to cruelty with weak economical reasons or selfishness', respectively. The effects of sex and age of respondents, animal categories in the inquiries, kinds of treatment, and rationality on scores were significant. Males were more tolerant than females. Respondents above 60 years old were more tolerant and those under 20 years old were less tolerant than other age groups. Respondents were more tolerant toward farm animals, experimental animals and pets, in that order. They were more tolerant of killing, chronic ill-treatment, acute ill-treatment and physical cutting such as debeaking, docking and so on in this order. Treatment with strong profitable rationale for humans were most acceptable. 72.1 % of respondents recommended rearing farm animals without physiological and psychological stress and said they would be prepared to pay a higher price to some degree. In conclusion, it is thought that animal welfare trends are not basically different between Japanese and Westerners, and they are affected by food culture, emotions toward special animals (culture on companion animals), and animal welfare movements. Jpn. J. Livest. Management, 32(2) : 43-52,1996. Received May 7,1996. Accepted July 5,1996.

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