Children’s Welfare Knowledge of and Empathy with Farm Animals: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT

Public concern for farm animal welfare is increasing in the UK, as is evidenced by recent legislation. Calls have been made to enhance awareness of food, farming, and farm animal welfare among school children, yet educators have very little research available to aid meaningful design of farm animal welfare education. Our research used an interdisciplinary approach to investigate Scottish children’s welfare knowledge of and perspectives on farm animals. The study set out to explore: a) children’s knowledge of the welfare needs of cows, lambs, and chickens, b) beliefs about farm animal sentience, the extent to which children empathized with farm animals, and d) the impact of first-hand experience on attitudes toward farm animals. Data were collected from six focus groups; there were interviews with children aged 6 to 11 years and these allowed both developmental and gender comparisons. While children were not indifferent to the welfare and treatment of farm animals, the study identified very large gaps in their knowledge of the welfare needs of farm animals. While children endorsed animal sentience and readily took the perspective of cows, chickens, and sheep, empathy was cognitive rather than affective. Most children had had little contact with farm animals and perceived of them in a more abstract way than they did pet animals. Our study highlights the potential of direct interaction with farm animals to enhance children’s welfare concern and compassion for farm animals. Findings also identified an interest in discussing the ethical aspects of killing animals for human consumption among children aged 10 years and older.

Keywords:

• animal welfare
• children
• education
• empathy
• farm animals
• human–animal interaction