Unlocking dialogue between dairy farmers and citizens

Practice Abstract

19 Aug

Livestock farming often has a negative reputation because of its impact on both the environment and animal welfare. But agroecologically-minded farmers are making headway, by creating opportunities for dialogue between themselves and citizens. Research connected with our innovation hub Coccinelle, based in the upland Massif Central region of France, recently studied how both citizens and farmers perceive upland dairy farming, by engaging them in a specially designed quiz. The four practices most often praised by both farmers and citizens were: i) rearing calves with their mother, compared with early mother-calf separation, ii) straw-bedded stabling during winter, iii) grazing animals in pastures with ample tree shade, and iv) a positive human-animal relationship resulting from frequent gentle contacts between the farmer and his/her animals. Citizens especially liked to see calves reared with their mother, confirming that, conversely, separating calves early from their mother is unacceptable for many of them. Citizens also considered the use of artificial insemination in a more negative light than farmers did. Older people (either farmers or citizens) had a more negative perception of both health monitoring using sensors and using rotating brushes for cow scratching, suggesting an age-related attitude towards technologically-based innovations. No gender-related attitudes were detected. Identifying farming practices that are considered negative is a good starting point for initiating dialogue between citizens and farmers, and co-designing farming practices in line with societal expectations. The two dimensions that appear to be the most contentious for citizens – calf-rearing and insemination - have surfaced as the ones needing the most communication about why farmers chose these practices. They could also be seen by the livestock sector as the ones requiring change and serve as a lever for greater acceptance of dairy farming.