Hello everyone,

As many of you may know I am currently doing my dissertation project on the general public's attitude and knowledge about animal welfare and associated legislations. I am interviewing and surveying livestock farmers, other animal breeders, zoo-keepers and companion owners.

 Now, the research is completely anonymous and it has to be to comply with the Data Protection Act. However; the only group which is lacking a lot of respondents is the livestock farmer -group; would anyone be interested in helping me complete my research?

I can do phone interviews or you could access the survey questions online by entering the following link:

http://www.survsoft.com/esurv.php?s=27170&k=12181-0-86535

I am lacking about 18 livestock farmers in order to get a valid sample size and I would be very grateful if you have any suggestions to how I may get more farmers to answer my questions. The deadline for data collection is very close and it would be fantastic if you could distribute my online link to friends or family which is in charge of management of livestock.

For any questions please e-mail me.

ac_we87@yahoo.no

Kind Regards

Ann

I guess you have tried other farming web sites and journals aimed at the livestock sector. Have you also tried National Sheep Association 01684 892661 Fax 892663?

 Brilliant! I will call them :) thank you

I can't find other forums online where I can post it, I did look but no luck in finding forums on this. I suppose I could use yellow pages, but feel a bit like I would be invading their privacy though. For my own experience I know farmers are busy people and thus calling them at work is defo not appreciated , that's why I've tried to get online volunteers instead, even though its a bit biased towards the 'internet' generation I don't want to interrupt hard-working people in their work and farmers often work continuously throughout the day.

I will call the sheep association and see what they can help me with :) Thank you very much Peter :)

Google Farming Forums

Also try

BFF British Farming Forum & Farming Forum

You could contact graham ellis at Colchester Livestock market. You could go along to Colchester Livestock market tomorrow and meet farmers. You could ask you fellow students on the agricultural course at Writtle to give you contacts. You could approach the writtle college employer engagement folk and cera who will have farmer contacts. I am reasonably certain that there is a beef discussion group in Essex. You could approach marriages feed millers and ask if they can help. You could find out who are the local training providers for farmers in Essex and approach them. You could ring up the local nfu offices at cochester, earls colne and chelmsford. Chase down abattoirs I think there is one at Purleigh. There is Cheale's as well. You could also ingratiate yourself to the essex yfc. You could also try the wfu, women are a bit more open minded than men on these things. Vets are another port of call.

The problem you have is the "perception" that farmers who live within their world view, which tells them different things in connection to animal welfare to that of acedemia view. Farmers have to make a living from animal production. However this is moralized, this is what has to be done in putting food on the table for these families. Farmers with livestock are hurting and need much tlc, given pressures of TB, F&M and public and governmaent antipathy to them. I stated before that they would like to see to be able to take part, as opposed to the suspicion that they enter in good faith and then are subjected to science that says: Research shows farmers are this or that in a welfare way that is negative. 

 Thank you very much that was very helpful,

I understand where you are coming from, I'm from farm background myself but choose to go a different direction with my study, now certain things i Norway might differ from this country but even where I come from farmers struggle to get ends to meet.

This research isn't to 'frame' anyone, my opinion is that research should ID problems and harvest solutions. I think people also have to remember that interpretations of research papers will differ from one person to another, there are many variables to consider. Of the papers I have read this far I've seen both good and bad sides of science and publications, I wouldn't go as far as saying that all research on farmers have put them out in a bad light though. Scientists should follow certain ethical guidelines and be objective in their judgement, critically evaluate and discuss different variables that may affect the results and then suggest possible solutions/recommendations.

This is what I intend to do, my goal is certainly not to 'frame' anyone, I just want to know if the public is informed and if there is a difference in the segments (i.e. farmers, breeders, zoo staff, pet-owners), by doing this I can Identify possible limitations to information services, find out where these services have succeeded and so on. 

I want to make things easier for both the public and the animal welfare organisations out there ( and of course pass my dissertation), if my research can make a difference I'll be a happy lass :)

Thank you for your feedback and help, it will defiantly help me a lot.

Best Wishes 

Ann

animal welfare research:

research should ID problems and harvest solutions.

In my experience Ann, there is a very great difference between collecting and analysing data, and then postulating logical and practical changes. In fact so great is this difference that it is rare to find a researcher capable of offering carefully analysed data and sensible/practical change.

I believe that this is because the 'psychology of the 'researcher' is radically different from that of the 'designer' or 'implementer.' (See the work of Professor Belbin)

In your case, be aware in which area your strength may lie and, should it be as researcher/analyst, do not be frightened to present your findings and suggest a hope that others take up the challenge of designing and implementing changes.

PS. Note that I did not use the word 'solutions' as being outputs from your research. To use the word solution implies a prior problem demanding resolution and this may not necessarily be the case. There is nothing wrong in research saying "leave well alone."

All the best.

 Very well said Peter, very well said :)

 Strange, it says I can't register because my e-mail is free of charge.