•Slovenian consumers in general are moderately doubtful of products bearing NHCs.•The trust in the formal authorities and social system are important for accepting foods with NHC/images.•Consumers ...who did not trust the social system also did not accept foods with NHC/images.•There are four groups of consumers regarding the reasons for their (non)acceptance of NHCs;
To understand consumers’ acceptance and preference in relation to Nutrition and Health Claims (NHCs) on food products and the reasons for their (non)acceptance in an Eastern European country with a weak tradition in NHC, and an enormous increase in the number of foods with NHCs in recent years, this study aimed to fill a research gap by applying a multi-methodological approach combining a survey and conjoint analysis (n = 204) and a focus group (n = 45). The survey demonstrated that Slovenian consumers in general are moderately doubtful of NHCs. Conjoint analysis showed that when Slovenians choose their breakfast cereals, NHCs are more important than whether visual images are present. Visual images convince only the youngest consumers. The study revealed the importance of social perception and trust in the social system for accepting foods with NHCs/images. Consumers who did not trust the political and economic system also did not accept foods with NHCs/images.
Alternative housing systems for dairy cattle have recently emerged, such as compost-bedded packs and artificial floor ones. To determine their acceptability among categories of people with a ...connection to animal husbandry, this study aimed to identify and compare the acceptability of (alternative) housing systems and attitudes to aspects of housing systems for dairy cattle among Slovenian consumers, farmers, and stakeholders. Farmers (N = 306), consumers (N = 508), and stakeholders (N = 40) were interviewed about their views on the main aspects (animals, farmers, products, environment) of housing systems for dairy cattle, the acceptance of four housing systems, and important housing features. The results show that consumers, stakeholders, and conventional farmers preferred housing systems with an artificial floor, while organic farmers preferred a housing system with a compost-bedded pack. Consumers and organic farmers expressed the greatest acceptance of almost every aspect of the housing system, except for a sufficient income for farmers and a low workload. Conventional farmers and stakeholders hold similar views, except for the expectation that the animals have enough space to move around, the image of the landscape, and the animals' health and wellbeing, where stakeholders showed more acceptance than conventional farmers. The results imply that systematically planned information aimed at different target categories is needed to increase the acceptance of (alternative) housing systems for cattle.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In the establishment and maintenance of a housing system for cattle by farmers, their perception of housing systems plays an important role in their decision to choose the environmentally sustainable ...housing system. The aim of this study was to determine farmers' attitudes towards their role, environmental sustainability, and perceived government support, to determine whether the role of cattle farmers influences their perceptions of different cattle housing systems, and to create a typology of cattle farmers based on these attitudes. The paper was based on online surveys (n = 306) and five focus groups with Slovenian cattle farmers (n = 42). Results show that the majority of participants placed a higher value on production than on the environment, but had adopted animal and environmentally friendly housing systems to achieve higher production and profits and to receive full direct payments. Four groups of cattle farmers based on the attitudes towards their role, environmental sustainability, and perceived governmental support were identified: Productivists, Traditionalists, Abandoners, and Environmentalists. Most respondents belonged to the Productivist group, who believed that environmental measures have a negative impact on agricultural development. A characteristic of the smaller Traditionalist group is that these farmers claimed to have an obligation to preserve or improve the environment for future generations. For Environmentalists, environmentally friendly agriculture is most important. The smallest group identified consists of farmers who indicated their role as a farmer was not important because they were likely to give up farming. Systematically planned communication aimed at different groups of farmers is needed to promote acceptance of changes in housing systems for cattle that reduce the greenhouse effect.
HIGHLIGHTS
The majority of farmers placed a higher value on production than on the environment.
They had adopted animal and environmentally friendly housing systems to achieve higher production and profits and to receive full direct payments.
There were four groups of cattle farmers: Productivists, Traditionalists, Abandoners, and Environmentalists.
•For most consumers the nutritional composition is more important than claims.•Some groups of consumers are sensitive to the use of health-related statements.•Positive preference for familiar and ...negative one for unfamiliar claim was observed.
The use of health claims on foods with a poor nutritional composition could pose a risk of misleading some groups of consumers in their food choices. This study aimed to explore the influence of the use of claims on consumers’ preferences for yoghurts with a different nutritional composition and the influence of more and less familiar claims on food choices. The study was conducted on 371 consumers using conjoint methodology and further cluster analysis. Fruit yoghurt was used as a base product. We investigated the impact of the following product attributes on consumers’ preferences: presence/absence of a probiotic and fat metabolism claim; sugar content; and fat content. The results suggest that, while consumers generally consider the nutritional composition of yoghurt to be more important than the tested claims, some groups of consumers are more sensitive to the use of health-related statements. We observed the consumers’ generally positive preference for a familiar probiotic claim, and their negative preference for a non-familiar fat metabolism claim. Overall, these results indicate that some groups of consumers are more sensitive to the use of health-related communications and are therefore more exposed to the risk of being misled if the composition of the yoghurt they buy is in fact less favourable. It would be beneficial if nutrient profiles were introduced to limit the use of claims on foods.
In order to raise citizens’ awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to develop an effective communication campaign on the SDGs, it is crucial to know citizens’ values, their ...awareness and knowledge of the SDGs, as well as how they receive information on sustainability. As no previous study has addressed this issue, this study aimed to fill a research gap and find out how demographic variables, personal values, awareness of sustainability challenges, information, and advertising influence citizens’ support for the SDGs. An online survey was conducted with representative Slovenian citizens (N = 502). The results showed that Slovenian citizens know little about sustainability issues and the SDGs. The greater the personal values, awareness of sustainability issues, higher education, efficient information, and trust in advertising, the greater the public support for the SDGs. To gain citizen support for the SDGs, it is important to plan a systematic communication campaign and government-led communication about the SDGs in the media. This includes information on sustainability issues, presentation of the environmental friendliness of a product/service, potential positive actions, and potential negative consequences.
Basic bovine behavior is a crucial parameter influencing cattle domestication. In addition, behavior has an impact on cattle productivity, welfare and adaptation. The aim of the present study was to ...infer quantitative genetic and genomic mechanisms contributing to natural dual-purpose cow behavior in grazing systems. In this regard, we genotyped five dual-purpose breeds for a dense SNP marker panel from four different European countries. All cows from the across-country study were equipped with the same electronic recording devices. In this regard, we analyzed 97,049 longitudinal sensor behavior observations from 319 local dual-purpose cows for rumination, feeding, basic activity, high active, not active and ear temperature. According to the specific sensor behaviors and following a welfare protocol, we computed two different welfare indices. For genomic breed characterizations and multi-breed genome-wide association studies, sensor traits and test-day production records were merged with 35,826 SNP markers per cow. For the estimation of variance components, we used the pedigree relationship matrix and a combined similarity matrix that simultaneously included both pedigree and genotypes. Heritabilities for feeding, high active and not active were in a moderate range from 0.16 to 0.20. Estimates were very similar from both relationship matrix-modeling approaches and had quite small standard errors. Heritabilities for the remaining sensor traits (feeding, basic activity, ear temperature) and welfare indices were lower than 0.09. Five significant SNPs on chromosomes 11, 17, 27 and 29 were associated with rumination, and two different SNPs significantly influenced the sensor traits "not active" (chromosome 13) and "feeding" (chromosome 23). Gene annotation analyses inferred 22 potential candidate genes with a false discovery rate lower than 20%, mostly associated with rumination (13 genes) and feeding (8 genes). Mendelian randomization based on genomic variants (i.e., the instrumental variables) was used to infer causal inference between an exposure and an outcome. Significant regression coefficients among behavior traits indicate that all specific behavioral mechanisms contribute to similar physiological processes. The regression coefficients of rumination and feeding on milk yield were 0.10 kg/% and 0.12 kg/%, respectively, indicating their positive influence on dual-purpose cow productivity. Genomically, an improved welfare behavior of grazing cattle, i.e., a higher score for welfare indices, was significantly associated with increased fat and protein percentages.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
•Farmers from Slovenia, Poland, Lithuania and the Netherlands used three strategies.•The main strategy was Expansion, Specialisation, and Wait and See.•In 2010, the main strategy for all countries ...together was that the Expansion.•In 2016, the main strategy for all countries together was the Wait and See.•Larger farms with somewhat younger farmers chose expansion and chain integration.
In recent years, the European Union (EU) dairy sector has experienced considerable changes, triggering heavily fluctuating milk prices and a crash in milk prices in 2015/2016. These changes were forcing dairy farmers to respond by reconsidering their strategy. Since there is a lack of insight into how farmers were adjusting their strategies to the new circumstances, this study aimed to fill the gap by conducting a survey on farmers’ development plans in three Central and Eastern European countries (Poland, Lithuania and Slovenia) with different farming systems and one Western European country with a well-developed dairy sector (the Netherlands) before (2010 and 2013) and one year after the EU milk quota was abolished (2016). Groups of farmers with similar strategies were identified using principle component analysis and cluster analysis. Differences in strategies between years and countries were studied. The results reveal three main strategies in the analysed years: expansion, specialisation, and wait and see. Six farmer clusters were then identified. The cluster of Growers was largest, corresponding to the strategies of expansion and specialisation in dairy production. The share of Growers was increasing in Poland and the Netherlands and falling in Lithuania and Slovenia, probably due to the strong market orientation and good dairy production conditions in the aforementioned countries. The share of farmers in the Wait and See cluster grew significantly from 2013 to 2016 in all countries. These farmers considered the economic environment as too uncertain for further development at the time. The share of Diversifiers was rather stable within each country over the years. The share of Chain integrators, namely those who look for cooperation with other parties in the chain, was larger in good years and the share of Co-operators, who prefer to cooperate with other farmers, was larger in difficult market times. The cluster of Movers had the largest farms. On average, larger farms with somewhat younger farmers opted for growth, chain integration or moving and somewhat older farmers with smaller farms for a (temporary) stand-still. But considerable differences in the number of farmers per cluster over the years were found. Less than half the farmers were consistent in their development direction after 3 years, due to fluctuating prices and changing policies. Wait and See farmers were the most consistent. Policymakers and advisory services should consider farm strategies according to national specificities. Most farmers follow a strategy of expansion, while a smaller group of them were more concerned and act cautiously in a difficult market or policy situation. However, many farmers appeared to change their opinion on the self-chosen direction from time to time due to the varying circumstances. This instability in strategy choice makes future decision-making a fluid matter and not really consistent with well-designed planning.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate consumer preferences in the Slovenian context with regard to cheese, ham and honey labelled with the national and EU protected designation of ...origin (PDO) indication and the protected geographical indication (PGI) associated with price and origin. Design/methodology/approach An online survey with a representative sample of the Slovenian population of 650 consumers was conducted. Consumer preferences were estimated using choice-based conjoint analysis. Findings The findings show that price is the most powerful driver of consumer preferences for cheese and honey, whereas it is origin for ham, which proved to be the most strongly desired “Slovenian” food product of all items analysed. Label is the least preferable attribute for all three products considered. Cheese, ham and honey bearing the national PDO and PGI labels were more desired than products carrying the EU PDO and PGI labels. The study findings also show the main statistically significant differences in the age and gender of consumers. Research limitations/implications The biggest limitation is that the study focused on certain labels only, related to quality, and origin in particular. Practical implications This result highlights the need to extend and intensify promotional and communication activities to increase consumer preferences for the national and EU PDO- and PGI-labelled cheeses, ham and honey. Originality/value This study contributes to relevant literature by presenting the results regarding consumer preferences for the EU and national quality labels for different food categories in Slovenia, which has no tradition in using the EU quality labels.
Farms face new challenges due to both climate change and the influence of economic, social, and institutional factors. The study examines the key aspects of the resilience of dairy farms that, if in ...place, can ensure their sustainable functioning. The purpose of the article is to diagnose and classify the main needs for strengthening the resilience of dairy farms. In implementing the research, an interdisciplinary approach developed within the framework of the Resilience for Dairy (R4D) project was used. The results of the research reveal differences in the classification of key needs to strengthen resilience by stakeholder groups. Farmers reported a need for solutions that increase their income and production flexibility. The other groups of respondents focused on reducing antibiotic use and improving resource efficiency and environmental protection. The analysis of key needs classifications among respondent groups, segmented by age, and the comparison of needs between respondents from Western European and Central and Eastern European countries showed minor differences, indicating a similarity in the perceived importance of needs. The study also identified needs perceived by respondents as essential to increasing dairy farm resilience. These primarily include the following: the work–life balance of farmers, effective communication with the community, and implementation of technical innovations related to dairy farming.
The bedding material used in barns for dairy cows has a significant effect on animal welfare and performance. Bedding influences the duration in which animals remain lying down and, consequently, the ...processes of rumination and milk production. It is crucial to have a complete understanding of the properties of bedding materials and the effects of alternative bedding materials on dairy cattle. This paper aims to evaluate the physical, chemical, and biological properties of various alternative and conventional bedding materials for dairy cattle for use in compost bedded pack or freestall barn systems. We analyzed 50 samples of 17 bedding materials produced in 3 European countries. We analyzed physical properties including the water holding capacity, porosity, moisture content, bulk density, dry bulk density, and particle size. Chemical analyses were performed to determine the total N, total organic C, and C:N ratio. In the biological analyses, the Escherichia coli count, total bacteria count, coliform count, and Klebsiella spp. count were assessed. The results demonstrated how the physical properties of the bedding materials may influence the chemical and biological properties. All of the materials presented adequate chemical properties to be used as bedding material. The physical properties of the bedding materials differed widely among the materials except for the dry bulk density, which presented no difference. Moreover, the contamination of each studied microorganism was observed for each bedding material to determine which material had the lowest level of contamination. Posidonia oceanica, Miscanthus grass, and spelt husks could be considered as a potential alternative material for use as bedding material for dairy cows in both systems (i.e., composted bedded pack and freestall). This experiment illustrated the importance of performing thorough physical, chemical, and biological analyses before implementing a material as bedding for dairy cattle.
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