Introduction: Human-animal relationships may markedly affect the welfare and productivity of farm animals (Hemsworth and Coleman, 2011). However, limited research has been conducted on animals raised under extensive conditions. This project aimed to address this knowledge gap by examining the relationship between farmer attitudes and on-farm ewe welfare.
Methodology: Farmer attitudes and its relationship with sheep welfare was investigated using an attitude questionnaire and an on-farm welfare assessment of breeding ewes. A total of 32 commercial sheep farms in Victoria, Australia were studied. In the questionnaire, farmers rated a set of statements on their attitudes towards sheep, sheep management, job satisfaction, and perceived difficulty in conducting best practice. For the welfare assessment, 100 ewes were randomly selected and assessed at each farm after weaning (spring/summer 2016). Seven measures were used for the assessment: body condition score (BCS), fleece condition, skin lesions, tail length, dag score, lameness and animals needing further care. Data was analysed by principal component analyses (PCAs) and Pearson correlations.
Main Results:The farms studied consisted of 13 (41%) prime lamb enterprises, 12 (38%) meat/wool enterprises and 7 (21%) wool enterprises. Flock sizes ranged from 430 to 9400 ewes (2714 ± 2147). PCAs on the questionnaire identified four main components (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value >0.60, Barlett’s test of sphericity p<0.05). Based on semantic content, the components were labelled subjectively as: ‘positive attitudes towards parasite control’, ‘positive job satisfaction’, ‘negative attitudes towards sheep’ and ‘perceived difficulties to sheep management’. Overall, farmers that had more ewes in adequate BCS had ‘positive attitudes towards parasite control’ (r= 0.35, p=0.04), ‘positive job satisfaction’ (r=0.41, p=0.01) and ‘perceived sheep management to be easy’ (r=0.38, p=0.03). Furthermore, farmers that had more lameness ‘perceived sheep management to be difficult’ (r=0.40, p=0.02), and farmers that had more ewes needing further care had more ‘negative attitudes towards sheep’ (r=0.35, p=0.05).
Principle Conclusions and Implications for Field: These results suggest that farmer attitude and perceived behavioural control may be two key drivers behind the behaviour of sheep farmers. Understanding the underlying beliefs that underpin farmer behaviour provides the opportunity, through targeted education and training, to improve the key human-animal interactions and subsequently farmer-ewe relation and animal welfare.