Sheep animal welfare in a low rainfall Mediterranean environment: a profitable investment?
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-11-2002
Journal Title
Agricultural Systems
ISSN
ISSN 0308-521X eISSN 1873-2267
Keywords
Sheep, Sheep welfare, Dryland farming, Mediterranean climate, Animal welfare, Dry summers, Farming systems, Low rainfall
Disciplines
Agribusiness | Agricultural Economics | Agricultural Science | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Climate | Environmental Monitoring | Natural Resource Economics | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Sheep and Goat Science | Soil Science | Water Resource Management
Abstract
Public concern over the welfare of animals used for agricultural production has grown over the last 20 years. This paper examines sheep animal welfare in a dryland farming system in a Mediterranean environment. The farming system examined is an integrated livestock–crop system in the Merredin region of Western Australia. A model of the farming system is used to examine the impact on farm profits of pursuing various management strategies that impact on sheep animal welfare. Results suggest that maintaining the animal welfare of sheep is the most profitable strategy. By contrast, neglect of animal welfare results in less farm profit. Hence, aside from ethical considerations, there are strong profit motives to maintain animal welfare in the dryland farming system reported here.
Recommended Citation
R. Kingwell, Sheep animal welfare in a low rainfall Mediterranean environment: a profitable investment?, Agricultural Systems, Volume 74, Issue 2, 2002, Pages 221-240, ISSN 0308-521X, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-521X(01)00086-5.
