7 March 2024

What are consumers’ perceptions of animal welfare?

The latest survey by the consumer organisation BEUC highlights how European consumers value animal welfare in agriculture. The results from 8 Member States show that chicks and pigs are perceived as the animals with the worst husbandry conditions. Shockingly, many consumers – 29% of respondents – remain unaware of practices such as chick culling, where millions of day-old male chicks are culled every year. This underlines the need for greater awareness and harmonised legislation in all Member States to ensure consistent animal welfare standards.