Source: MEATINGPLACE, 8/1/11
 

Consumers likely will pay more for meat with a mandatory label indicating animal welfare information, according to a study released this month by Kansas State researchers.

“The analysis suggests there may be significant support by consumers for mandatory labeling of production practices impacting animal welfare,” said Kansas State University Assistant Professor Glynn Tonsor, who conducted the study along with Michigan State University Professor Christopher Wolf.
The agricultural economists examined U.S. resident support for mandatory labeling of animal welfare information on pork and egg products. Data was collected in 2008 from 2,001 U.S. residents.

The use of gestation crates and stalls for swine, as well as laying hen cages for chickens has been heavily criticized by some groups for being too restrictive for the animals, said Tonsor, who is a livestock marketing specialist with K-State Research and Extension. In some states, those concerns have resulted in citizen petitions and legislative bills that establish space and/or movement requirements for sows and/or hens that lay eggs. 

When initially asked, 61.7 percent of survey respondents indicated they favored mandatory labeling of pork produced on farms using gestation crates/stalls, and 62 percent said they were in favor of such labeling of eggs produced using laying hen cages.

The typical U.S. resident was estimated to be willing to pay 20 percent higher prices for pork and egg products in exchange for mandatory labeling information conveying the use – or lack thereof – of gestation crates/stalls or laying hen cages.

The economists believe, however, that the 2 percent estimate may overstate actual demand and note more work is needed. Demand was higher among females and younger consumers than in others involved in the study. The perceived accuracy of information from different sources was also an important demand driver.
A fact sheet summarizing the study, a link to a full scientific article, and corresponding videos are available online.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.