Perceptions of animal welfare on livestock: evidence from college agronomy students in Costa Rica

Abstract

This article focuses on students dedicated to the study of agronomy. To identify the general perception of students about animal welfare in production systems, four categories were developed and presented through a survey. The four constructs of animal welfare used in this study were as follows: (1) sociodemographic aspects; (2) generalities about animal welfare; (3) ethical and bioethical dimensions of animal welfare; and (4) animal welfare within the framework of bio law. The results indicate that most respondents agreed that animal welfare is important within animal production systems and that causing unnecessary suffering to animals is ethically questionable. Overall, the results indicated significant associations between sociodemographic factors and the different ethical perspectives related to animal welfare, concerning aspects of suffering and the use of animals in experimentation or entertainment activities. These sociodemographic factors mentioned included gender, educational level, and upbringing environment. Understanding the perceptions of university students in agronomy regarding animal welfare is the necessary substrate to improve on and update study programs related to animal production systems. This should be paramount in the training of future professionals who will manage animal welfare issues as part of their future careers in the livestock sector.