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The egg industry has transitioned, or is in the process of transitioning, from conventional cages to alternative hen housing systems in response to legal changes in many states across the United States (US). However, consumers find it is increasingly difficult to understand the details behind those labels and specific attributes conveyed. There are...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... asked to self-assess knowledge of egg production practices and egg labels (Table 5), respondents perceived a greater knowledge of the labels than the production practices, indicating a disconnect between label and production practice in regard to consumer understanding of the housing system they prefer. Given that the average US consumer is exposed to egg labels more frequently than they are exposed to laying hen facilities, this result makes sense. ...Similar publications
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Behavior can sometimes be observed directly, and can also be affected by the presence of human observers. Technological devices have strongly advanced our understanding of certain aspects of animal behavior, and the small cameras borne in a straight line by study animals offer a reliable alternative to direct observation. One possible way to make a...
Citations
... However, it should be noted that consumers' preferences are often not in line with scientific facts and do not serve sustainability-related purposes (Molnár and Szőllősi 2020). Ochs et al. (2018) showed that consumers often remain unaware of some of the negative impacts of alternative production systems, such as the impact on worker health and safety. Several studies indicated that price is the most important reason for not buying non-caged eggs (Bejaei, Wiseman, and Cheng 2015;Ochs et al. 2018;Yeh, Menozzi, and Török 2020;Żakowska-Biemans and Tekień 2017). ...
... Ochs et al. (2018) showed that consumers often remain unaware of some of the negative impacts of alternative production systems, such as the impact on worker health and safety. Several studies indicated that price is the most important reason for not buying non-caged eggs (Bejaei, Wiseman, and Cheng 2015;Ochs et al. 2018;Yeh, Menozzi, and Török 2020;Żakowska-Biemans and Tekień 2017). In a recent review (Rondoni, Asioli, and Millan 2020), concerning consumer preferences for eggs, it was concluded that production method can crucially affect consumer preferences for eggs and that consumers prefer cage-free eggs. ...
... With a wide variety of production factors and market preferences that contribute to the profitability of eggs, it can be difficult for producers to predict the fate of future investments (Ochs et al. 2018). There are several criteria that need to be assessed by egg producers during the decisionmaking process among the different production systems in the egg industry. ...
... Knowledge and belief about egg products can affect purchasing behavior [30]. Internationally, consumers are known to prefer cage-free eggs over caged eggs due to the perception of higher hen welfare, and associations with health, food safety, and sensory attributes [48,49]. In China, lack of consumer familiarity with the term 'cage-free' was identified as a challenge by participants of our study and in other studies [20,21]. ...
Successful promotion of cage-free eggs supports a housing system offering potential for improved hen welfare. As the world’s largest egg producer and consumer, China offers much potential for welfare improvements. We examined 10 Chinese companies supplying cage-free eggs (four using indoor systems, six with outdoor access) to understand their strategies to promote cage-free eggs to businesses and consumers. We purposively sampled 12 employees from these companies familiar with production or sales. We conducted two–three semi-structured interviews per participant, collected public online documents (including online shops and social media content), and recorded field notes. We analyzed the data using template analysis to generate key results. Participants reported buyers being unfamiliar with ‘animal welfare’ and ‘cage-free’, but familiar with concepts associated with ‘free-range’. Participants considered three attributes when promoting cage-free eggs: price (engaging buyers who were willing to pay more), experiential attributes (e.g., taste, accommodating buyer preferences), and non-sensory credence attributes (e.g., cage-free production, improving buyers’ understanding and trust). Our results are not generalizable, though they may be transferable to similar contexts. Understanding how companies promoted cage-free eggs to buyers may help inform promotion of other animal products with welfare attributes. Simultaneous efforts are needed to ensure actual welfare improvements on farms.
... Traditional livestock farming methods generally impose significant environmental burdens on both rural and urban environments [291,292]. Given the current unsustainable nature of livestock production systems, a comprehensive reform aimed at enhancing sustainability is urged, thereby mitigating adverse effects on animals, health and well-being, and the environment [293]. ...
Vietnam heavily relies on pork as its primary source of animal protein. Traditional farming methods, characterized by small-scale operations, dominate the industry. However, challenges such as rising feed costs, disease outbreaks, and market volatility are prompting many farmers to abandon their businesses. Recognizing the pivotal role of the swine sector in both economic development and nutrition, authorities must intervene to prevent its collapse. In developed nations, smart pig farming, utilizing technologies like sensors and cameras for data collection and real-time decision-making, has significantly improved health and productivity. These technologies can detect subtle indicators of animal well-being, enabling prompt intervention. This review aims to analyze the drivers of Vietnam’s swine farming, identify existing production system flaws, and explore innovative precision farming methods worldwide. Embracing precision farming promises to enhance Vietnam’s competitiveness in export markets and bolster consumer confidence. However, reliance solely on expensive foreign technologies may benefit large-scale farms, leaving smaller ones behind. Therefore, fostering local innovation and validating cost-effective solutions will be crucial for the sustainable growth of small- and medium-scale pig farming in Vietnam.
... Much of the demand for animal products will be met by local production. However, despite the increasing population and demand for animal product, consumers are becoming more aware about the negative impact of livestock farming on the environment, human health, and animal welfare (Ochs D.S. et al. 2018) [13] . Land and water will become increasingly competitive resources, meaning livestock producers will become increasingly competitive resources, meaning livestock producers will need to maximize production while employing their limited resources sustainably (Baldi A., et al. 2017) [1] . ...
... Much of the demand for animal products will be met by local production. However, despite the increasing population and demand for animal product, consumers are becoming more aware about the negative impact of livestock farming on the environment, human health, and animal welfare (Ochs D.S. et al. 2018) [13] . Land and water will become increasingly competitive resources, meaning livestock producers will become increasingly competitive resources, meaning livestock producers will need to maximize production while employing their limited resources sustainably (Baldi A., et al. 2017) [1] . ...
... The selection of variables was based on an extensive literature review (Queiroz et al., 2014;Miranda-De la Lama et al., 2017;Franco et al., 2018;Ochs et al., 2018;Teixeira et al., 2018). ...
The intensification of production systems raises concerns about animal welfare. In egg production, the use of cages is the main reason for discussion. The current transition from the production system to cage-free systems raises questions about consumer perception. The objective of this study was to typify, characterize and differentiate the profile of Brazilian consumers regarding animal welfare in laying poultry. For this, a questionnaire with 28 questions, addressing questions about sociodemographic indicators (SOC), eating habits (HAB), knowledge about the production chain (CON), general perception of animal welfare in egg production (HPW) and about eggs with an animal welfare guarantee (PEAWG) was answered by 1415 consumers. Machine learning techniques were applied to characterize; typify and holistic perception. Three groups of consumers were defined: interested, emerging and indifferent. All indicators under study showed discriminatory power (P < 0.001). The indicators that showed the greatest importance for the classification of the three profiles were HPW < EHAB < COM < PEAWG < SOC. The results indicate the potential of interested and emerging groups to become consumers of cage-free eggs and also indicate the need to inform the population about animal welfare in egg production. The results reinforce the need to create specific public policies for the production chain, in order to value egg production and reaffirm interest in the area, especially in specific niches such as production in cage-free systems.
... The recent studies on egg products have focussed on sustainability issues, such as animal welfare and production methods (e.g. Doyon et al., 2016;Parrott et al., 2016;Pettersson et al., 2016;H€ orisch, 2018;Ochs et al., 2018;Busse et al., 2019;Mitrovic et al., 2022;Rondoni et al., 2020;Gautron et al., 2022). These issues are interlinked, as the central part of animal welfare in poultry production is the system used to produce meat end eggs (Parrott et al., 2016). ...
... Furthermore, production system has been considered as one of the most significant factors influencing consumers' purchase decisions for egg products in the UK (Parrott et al., 2016) and in Serbia (Mitrovic et al., 2022). Also, evidence also exists on consumers' willingness to pay higher prices for adding objects in barn systems, such as perches and nesting boxes (Doyon et al., 2016) and removing the beak trimming practice from production (Ochs et al., 2018). In addition, Gautron et al. (2022) found the housing system to be importantly affecting the use-value and image properties of egg products. ...
... In addition, Gautron et al. (2022) found the housing system to be importantly affecting the use-value and image properties of egg products. Animal welfare and production methods also connect with egg product safety (Ochs et al., 2018;Rondoni et al., 2020) and taste (Pettersson et al., 2016). According to Ochs et al. (2018), consumers considered eggs produced with higher animal welfare standards as safer to eat. ...
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to provide information on how citizens in nine countries across Europe perceive egg product quality and the importance of a product's sustainability attributes (animal welfare, country of origin and production method) in egg purchases.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were gathered in 2021 via an online survey in nine European countries (Finland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Denmark). A total of 3,601 responses were collected. As methods of analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), independent samples t -test, paired samples t -test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted when investigating the quality dimensions of egg products and the differences amongst the sociodemographic groups.
Findings
Citizens in European countries considered animal welfare aspects, production method and country of origin important when purchasing egg products. Citizens' perceived quality of egg products was related to two dimensions (i.e. product properties and responsible production), and there were differences in perceptions by sociodemographic groups (i.e. age, gender, education and country of residence). Responsible production was most valued by younger women with higher education. Also in the Netherlands and Romania, citizens had stronger preferences for product properties compared to responsible production, whilst in Germany, responsible production was appreciated more than product properties.
Originality/value
The study provides new information on citizens' perceived egg product quality and the role of a product's sustainability attributes in egg purchases. Furthermore, the results bring novel insights on the differences in perceptions amongst citizens living in nine European countries.
... For example, one study reported that 65% of participants from the United States were willing to vote for a ban on tie stalls (Robbins et al. 2019), and research of public views toward other animal industries (e.g. pigs -Vandresen & Hötzel 2021 and laying hens - Ochs et al. 2018) indicates that behaviourally restrictive housing of farmed animals is socially objectionable. Evidence that at least some working within the animal sectors do not support systems that restrict the movement of farm animals was provided by Yunes et al. (2018), who reported that 69% of 173 respondents who were affiliated with the pig industry rejected gestation stalls. ...
Veterinarians and animal scientists can provide leadership on issues relevant to farm animal welfare, but perceptions of these stakeholders regarding societal expectations for welfare are underexplored. This study involved five focus groups of veterinarians and animal scientists (n = 50 in total), recruited at a European meeting focused on cattle welfare. Participants were invited to discuss topics related to cattle welfare and were prompted with questions to elicit their perspectives of public concerns and how the participants felt public input should be included when developing solutions. Discussions were moderated by trained facilitators, audio-recorded and transcribed, and transcripts analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Ultimately, four primary themes were developed: (1) The public as concerned; (2) The public as ignorant; (3) The public as needing education; and (4) The public as helper or hindrance. Groups identified specific farming practices viewed as concerning to the public, including lack of pasture access, behavioural restriction, and painful procedures. Discussions about these concerns and the role of the public were often framed around the assumption that the public was ignorant about farming, and that this ignorance needed to be rectified through education. Participants were generally ambivalent in their beliefs regarding public contributions to solutions for farm animal welfare but suggested that consumers should pay more for products to help shoulder any costs of welfare improvements.
... Most surveys focus on the association of eggs with health risks such as cholesterol (MacDonald et al. 2020;Zhuang et al. 2021) and foodacquired diseases such as salmonellosis (Adesiyun et al. 2020;Moffatt et al. 2016). There is currently great interest in researching changes made to the production system to increase animal welfare, such as laying hens raised in a cage system to alternative systems (organic and cage-free), and the consumer's perception of these changes (Cao et al. 2021;Ochs et al. 2018). However, characteristics, such as size, nutritional, sensory properties, flavour and colour, are also traditional determinants that define the choice of eggs by consumers at the time of purchase (Ahmad Hanis et al. 2013;Berkhoff et al. 2020). ...
Factors such as price, egg availability, lifestyle and origin influence egg purchases. The eggshell and yolk colour can also influence consumer decisions at the time of purchase. Therefore, the objective of the study is to identify whether the physical characteristics of eggs, such as the colour of the yolk and shell, influence the purchase decision through a systematic review using the PRISMA guidelines. After the selection, 17 studies (from 1963 to 2021) were compiled. The United States presented the largest number of studies on the topic among the countries. The number of article observations ranged from 197 to 7845 respondents, and it was possible to verify that most of the respondents were women. Most respondents showed preference for brown eggs and the medium yellow colour was the most cited answer as preferred by consumers. Although eggs are one of the most consumed foods of animal origin in the world, there is still a lack of knowledge on the part of consumers about the factors that influence the characteristics of eggs, demonstrating that inaccurate information can affect preferences and consumption habits.
... Poultry is the farming species that raises the highest public concern regarding welfare management practices [9]. Consumers are willing to pay more for eggs from cage-free or free-range systems [18][19][20] or eggs from more "welfare-friendly" furnished cages [21]. They are also willing to pay an extra cost for organic meat [22], meat from slow-growing chickens [23] or meat from dual-purpose farming systems, where male chickens are reared for their meat and females for their eggs [24]. ...
... They are also willing to pay an extra cost for organic meat [22], meat from slow-growing chickens [23] or meat from dual-purpose farming systems, where male chickens are reared for their meat and females for their eggs [24]. Nonetheless, price is always an issue [18,19,23,25]. Especially for meat from highly welfare-friendly systems, compared to eggs, since meat is a more expensive product than eggs [24,25]. ...
Animal welfare is a key and distinct component of sustainable agriculture and food security. People, both as citizens and consumers, have become more concerned about the husbandry of livestock species. Positive welfare goes a step further than the common welfare approach, supporting that a good life for animals is not only the alleviation of negative aspects, but also the promotion of positive affectivities. So, a sustainable management system for any livestock species should promote positive aspects in the lives of animals. Poultry is one of the species whose welfare is most impaired, and numerous concerns are raised by society. For all the above, we reviewed the positive welfare indicators that have been studied in livestock poultry and that can be used to promote positive effects and assess welfare for the most common species, i.e., broilers, laying hens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quails and ostriches. We analyzed the results categorized by species, discussed the connection of the indicators with sustainable management, and made proposals for future studies. Exploration and dustbathing have been extensively studied and seem most promising, especially in broilers and laying hens, followed by nesting and perching, and swimming for waterfowl. Qualitative behavioral assessment (QBA) is already applied in protocols for broilers and laying hens, but the results are not as promising due to the homogeneity of the flock and the difficulty in observations. Play has been studied mostly in broilers but is a behavior difficult to recognize and needs further understanding. The results are limited for all species, except broilers and laying hens.
... Therefore, the PLF system, which helps farmers and producers make decisions using quantitative data, is being applied to farms. Previous PLF studies have focused on production and management, such as pig health and welfare, by incorporating machine learning and have increased pork production and improved convenience for producers (Banhazi et al., 2012;Ochs et al., 2018). Numerous studies have addressed the issue of increased meat consumption. ...
Meat consumption per capita in South Korea has steadily increased over the last several years and is predicted to continue increasing. Up to 69.5% of Koreans eat pork at least once a week. Considering pork-related products produced and imported in Korea, Korean consumers have a high preference for high-fat parts, such as pork belly. Managing the high-fat portions of domestically produced and imported meat according to consumer needs has become a competitive factor. Therefore, this study presents a deep learning-based framework for predicting the flavor and appearance preference scores of the customers based on the characteristic information of pork using ultrasound equipment. The characteristic information is collected using ultrasound equipment (AutoFom III). Subsequently, according to the measured information, consumers’ preferences for flavor and appearance were directly investigated for a long period and predicted using a deep learning methodology. For the first time, we have applied a deep neural network-based ensemble technique to predict consumer preference scores according to the measured pork carcasses. To demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed framework, an empirical evaluation was conducted using a survey and data on pork belly preference. Experimental results indicate a strong relationship between the predicted preference scores and characteristics of pork belly.
