A comparison of generalized multinomial logit, random parameters logit, wtp-space and latent class models to studying consumers' preferences for animal welfare

The European societies are requiring that animals to be raised as closely as possible to their natural conditions. The growing concerns about animal welfare is resulting in continuous modifications of regulations and policies that led to ban of a number of intensive farming methods. The European authorities consider the pig welfare as a priority issue. They are studying to ban surgical pig castration by 2018, which may seriously affect markets and consumers due to boar tainted-meat. This study analysed consumers’ preferences and acceptance regarding an alternative to castration of high-level boar-taint frankfurter sausages. Non-hypothetical discrete choice experiments was applied by creating a real shopping scenario before and after tasting the products. Data were collected for a sample of 150 consumers from the metropolitan area of Madrid, Spain. Different modelling approaches (Generalized Multinomial Logit-GMNL, Random Parameters Logit-RPL, WTP-space and Latent Class-LC models) were applied to figure out which model have the best goodness of fit. Results showed the appropriateness of the proposed alternative by using a new flavour as a masking strategy. When consumers tasted the products, they showed their willingness to pay a premium for this flavour. The WTP space model showed the best goodness of fit in terms of likelihood, Akaike information criterion and McFadden Pseudo R2. Furthermore, the degree of randomness identified by the scale parameter is also estimated. Uncertainty in selection decreased significantly after the sensory experiencePostprint (published version

Analysis of the stakeholders’ attitudes for banning of castration of male pigs in Europe: focus group methodology

Pig production is one of the major activities in Spain. Less than 20% of pigs are castrated mainly for meat quality purposes and to avoid boar taint. Due to the negative impact of castration to animal welfare European Union has planned to voluntary end surgical castration by 2018. The aim of this study was to know the attitudes of different stakeholders about this banning. Focus group methodology was used to assess it with the different stakeholders involved. Results showed that the stakeholders feel that because production of entire male pigs in Spain is already high, ending castration might not be a problem in a near future. But they think that exceptions to the declaration for high quality products such as differentiated quality and Iberian pig production have to be listed.Postprint (published version

Analysis of the stakeholders’ attitudes for banning of castration of male pigs in Europe: focus group methodology

Pig production is one of the major activities in Spain. Less than 20% of pigs are castrated mainly for meat quality purposes and to avoid boar taint. Due to the negative impact of castration to animal welfare European Union has planned to voluntary end surgical castration by 2018. The aim of this study was to know the attitudes of different stakeholders about this banning. Focus group methodology was used to assess it with the different stakeholders involved. Results showed that the stakeholders feel that because production of entire male pigs in Spain is already high, ending castration might not be a problem in a near future. But they think that exceptions to the declaration for high quality products such as differentiated quality and Iberian pig production have to be listed