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Survey reveals attitudes towards farm animal health and welfare
Both farmers and members of the public said that health provision was the most important factor when it comes to assessing animals' overall wellbeing.

SRUC reseacrhers compare the views of farmers and members of the public.

Farmers and the public want farm animals to be healthy and able to express their natural behaviours, according to new research.

A survey by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) compared the opinions of farmers and the public on the importance of health and natural behaviours in livestock. It also explored how these views are influenced by how much health issues are minimised and natural behaviours are promoted.

There is a general belief that farmers emphasise keeping animals healthy, while the public is more likely to want animals to be able to exhibit natural behaviours. But this study, published in Frontiers in Animal Science, found more similarities than differences when comparing the views of the two groups.

Besides wanting animals to be able to express natural behaviours, responses from both groups imply that the level of health provision is the most important factor when assessing animal wellbeing. However, the study found that farmers judge situations where health issues are not minimised, but natural behaviour is supported, more negatively than the public.


The survey of more than 168 farmers and 800 members of the public also found that sector, production system and farming background affected farmer attitudes towards the importance of health and natural behaviours. There were also discrepancies in attitudes among the public, with being vegetarian, vegan or flexitarian increasing the likelihood of highly rating natural behaviours as important.

Study co-author Dr Belinda Vigors, a social scientist at SRUC, commented: “This study shows that although there are differences between farmers and members of the public, there are also some key similarities.

“Importantly, it is very clear both farmers and the public want farm animals to be both healthy and able to express their natural behaviours. The findings of the study are relevant to better understanding the expectations of farmers and members of the public and what they consider is important for animal welfare.”

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.