scholarly journals Australian Livestock Export Industry Workers’ Attitudes toward Animal Welfare

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1411
Author(s):  
Renee S. Willis ◽  
Emma J. Dunston-Clarke ◽  
Leah R. Keating ◽  
Patricia A. Fleming ◽  
Teresa Collins

Understanding live export industry workers’ attitudes and beliefs toward animal welfare can provide insight into their decision-making processes and likely behavior. Industry workers (n = 265) with various roles within the supply chain were surveyed from different global regions. Participants were divided into ten categories according to their industry roles and compared using ordinal regression. Respondents were highly likely to have a positive attitude toward animal welfare; the majority of workers enjoyed working with livestock (95.8%) and agreed that livestock should be treated with respect (97.7%). Workers demonstrated a strong understanding of animal welfare concepts, 168 respondents (63.4%) provided examples of ways they had improved animal welfare in their workplace, and 164 workers (61.9%) suggested ways that animal welfare could be improved further. Most workers (95.8%) agreed that animal welfare was satisfactory in their workplace. Five out of the 24 multiple-choice responses differed significantly by the participant’s industry role, but no particular group displayed consistently divergent beliefs or attitudes. Given the community concern regarding animals in the livestock export supply chain, it is imperative to understand the attitudes of industry personnel who are responsible for the daily management of the animals. This knowledge assists in the development of animal welfare policy and can inform strategies to manage public perception.

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1864
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Fleming ◽  
Sarah L. Wickham ◽  
Anne L. Barnes ◽  
David W. Miller ◽  
Teresa Collins

There is significant public interest in the Australian live animal export industry and a need to develop a program that can measure and monitor animal welfare throughout the supply chain. An online survey of stakeholder opinions of this industry and animal welfare measures was carried out in 2015 with 921 respondents: 30% from the public who identified as animal welfare advocates (AWAs); 44% from the public who did not identify as AWAs (general public; GP); 26% live export industry (LEI) workers. AWA and GP respondents expressed greater concern than LEI respondents for animal welfare throughout the supply chain but had less concern for animals at Australian feedlots than in other parts of the supply chain. The majority of AWA and GP respondents believed data collected on animal welfare should be made public and should be collected by independent welfare officers and used to regulate the industry and impose penalties for poor welfare. LEI workers believed that data should be confidential, collected by LEI workers and used by the industry to self-regulate. AWA and GP respondents rated the importance and practicality of a number of welfare indicators greater than LEI workers, while respondents shared an analogous view of the importance and practicality of these indicators. Results can be used to develop welfare assessments that ensure a better understanding between industry members and those not in the industry, while facilitating welfare improvements and promoting greater transparency for the live export industry.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1236
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Fleming ◽  
Sarah L. Wickham ◽  
Emma J. Dunston-Clarke ◽  
Renee S. Willis ◽  
Anne L. Barnes ◽  
...  

Animal welfare is an important issue for the live export industry (LEI), in terms of economic returns, community attitudes and international socio-political relations. Mortality has traditionally been the main welfare measure recorded within the LEI; however, high mortality incidents are usually acted upon after adverse events occur, reducing the scope for proactive welfare enhancement. We reviewed 71 potential animal welfare measures, identifying those measures that would be appropriate for use throughout the LEI for feeder and slaughter livestock species, and categorised these as animal-, environment- and resource-based. We divided the live export supply chain into three sectors: (1) Australian facilities, (2) vessel and (3) destination country facilities. After reviewing the relevant regulations for each sector of the industry, we identified 38 (sector 1), 35 (sector 2) and 26 (sector 3) measures already being collected under current practice. These could be used to form a ‘welfare information dashboard’: a LEI-specific online interface for collecting data that could contribute towards standardised industry reporting. We identified another 20, 25 and 28 measures that are relevant to each LEI sector (sectors 1, 2, 3, respectively), and that could be developed and integrated into a benchmarking system in the future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Collins ◽  
Ursula M. C. Anthony ◽  
Emma J. Dunston-Clarke ◽  
Patricia A. Fleming

Sheep are exposed to numerous stressors and environments during the pre-export phase of the live export industry. Establishing how animal behavior, health and demeanor reflect their experiences prior to sea transport is the first step toward testing the suitability and practicality of animal welfare measures. A total of 240 merino wethers originating from four farms were assessed at four locations in the live export chain: on farm, upon arrival to the registered export feedlot (Fe1), prior to departing the feedlot (Fe2) and 30 min post loading onto a live export vessel. Each of these locations and time points represent relevant assessment points as part of the commercial live export process. Pen-side behavioral and health measures were collected. Video footage was collected and edited to provide 48 30–45 s duration clips that were then scored by 12 assessors against 10 demeanor terms using a Qualitative Behavioral Assessment (QBA) methodology; data were analyzed using Principal Components (PC) analysis. Repeated Measures ANOVAs tested for variation in each dependent measure across each location and time point. There were low levels of health issues recorded overall; however, seven health and behavior measures significantly varied across the locations and time points. Most vocalizing was recorded on farm; most drinking, eating and resting behaviors were recorded at Fe1 and ruminating at Fe2; while the highest percentage of wethers with ocular discharge and lameness was on the vessel. For QBA, PC1 explained 30.5% of the variability, with agitated and nervous loaded to one end of the axis and calm and relaxed loaded to the opposing end. PC2 explained 24.5% of the variability, with interested, alert and sociable loaded to one end of the axis and lethargic loaded to the opposing end. Spearman's rank correlations between behavior, health and PC scores indicated that wethers eating, ruminating and resting were scored as more calm/relaxed, while those scored as more agitated/nervous or/ lethargic were also likely to vocalize. Determining how wethers respond to the different environments in the immediate pre-export phase of the journey informs on their welfare and the practicality of using a behavior tool to assess animal welfare.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harmen S. Wijbenga ◽  
Paul C. van Fenema ◽  
Nynke Faber

Purpose The purpose of the study is to diagnose recurrent logistics problems in a public organization’s network of logistics entities, determining the maturity level of each supply chain (SC) function, and trying to link problems within the SC functions to the maturity level by using the case study method. Design/methodology/approach Extant research on supply chain management (SCM) maturity is combined with notions of SC flows and disciplines. The resulting SCM Disciplines Maturity model comprises multiple diagnostic steps. It is illustrated by means of a developmental case study at a large public organization facing recurrent logistics problems in routine processes. Findings The model is shown to be a useful instrument to obtain insight into linkages between recurrent logistics problems and the way an SCM organization harbors multiple SCM disciplines. Originality/value The paper examines recurrent logistics problems in relation to SCM maturity, a relatively unknown research subject. It shows how SCM maturity thinking can support the diagnosis of recurrent problems. In a rapidly changing world, it enables further research on diagnosis as a dynamic capability.


2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 386-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Msafiri Mbaga ◽  
Mohammed Suleiman Rashid Al‐Shabibi ◽  
Houcine Boughanmi ◽  
Slim Mohamed Zekri

Author(s):  
Goran Milovanovic ◽  
◽  
Tamara Stankovic ◽  

Health crises have an impact on supply chains, mainly by disrupting their regular activities. In this research, the authors have analyzed the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has made on business relationships between supply chain partners in the automotive industry and their suppliers, which are mostly from territories where the initial outbreak of the SARS COV 2 virus occurred. The analysis shows that in some cases, there is a strong dependency between the pandemic and production levels. Being dependent prevents supply chains from maintaining stability and causes system vulnerabilities. The authors conclude their work with a thesis on the pronounced impact of the current pandemic on automotive supply chain activities. For the analysis to be complete, it is necessary to monitor changes in production levels further, since data for the current year still does not provide a realistic insight into all the consequences at the supply chain level.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 567-584
Author(s):  
Clare Sandford-Couch

Taking an interdisciplinary approach the article offers a fresh legal historical understanding of the Fifth Story of the Eighth Day in Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron. Detailed analysis of the tale reveals much about the realities of the administration of justice in fourteenth century Florence and contemporary expectations of those exercising judicial authority. In making apparent the expectation that judges would look and act in a certain manner, the article suggests that Boccaccio’s story can be interpreted as offering an insight into the extent to which public perception of a man’s identity as a judge was dependent upon his appearance and attire.


Author(s):  
Mario Chong ◽  
Eduardo Perez ◽  
Jet Castilla ◽  
Hernan Rosario

This chapter recommends applying block chain technology to the cocoa supply chain. Using this technology, it will be possible to show and guarantee the traceability of the final product. Traceability in the cocoa chain begins in the production stages (harvest and post-harvest) to obtain relevant data related to cocoa beans and their producers, promptly, until finding the raw material origin and inputs used during the process. The material provider's name must be considered, as well as the manufacturer's expiration date, the batch number, and the production area's reception date. This is why authors recommend using Block chain, which is a data structure that stores information chronologically in interlinked blocks. It works as a digital master book and the participants reach an agreement to register any information in the blocks. Throughout the chapter, authors show how to apply this technology.


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