Life worth living or healthy lives? Stakeholder views on biosecurity and animal welfare in EU organic, extensive and small-scale pig and poultry farming systems
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Biosecurity is widely recognized as a cornerstone of disease prevention and animal health management. Organic, extensive and small-scale farming systems face several challenges related to biosecurity that are different to more conventional farming settings. This study investigates how farmers, veterinarians and advisors across six European countries view standard biosecurity measures, their effectiveness and their relationship with animal welfare in alternative farms. On the basis of survey data from 243 respondents, we found high awareness of biosecurity but significant concerns about the practicality and suitability of standardized measures in non-intensive settings. Alternative farmers prioritized natural behaviours and outdoor access, whereas veterinarians emphasized disease prevention, revealing different understandings of welfare–health interactions. Consistently, farmers attributed significantly greater importance to welfare dimensions related to natural living, freedom of movement and species-specific behaviours than veterinarians and advisors did. The respondents also expressed concerns about restrictive control measures, including bans on outdoor farming and compulsory culling, which they viewed as potentially undermining their values and the overall farming resilience. These findings highlight the need for policy frameworks that are both scientifically robust and adaptable to diverse farming realities.
Source: Veterinary Research
Institutions: University of Padua, Université de Tours, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Biologie des oiseaux et aviculture, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Utrecht University, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Aarhus University, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,390
OpenAlex ID: W7225745687