A Meat and Dairy Article from All-Creatures.org




The Hidden Toll of Livestock Farming

From StockfreeFarming.org
October 2024

With farmers 3.5 times more likely to die from suicide than the general population, it is safe to say that the industry is in crisis.

stock-free farming

October 10th is World Mental Health Day, a global campaign which advocates for mental health to be ‘prioritised, protected, and promoted’ in the workplace. Nowhere is there a greater need for this than in the farming sector.

With farmers 3.5 times more likely to die from suicide than the general population, it is safe to say that the industry is in crisis.

We recently conducted a UK-wide survey in conjunction with Bryant Research and the University of Bath into a previously neglected aspect of farmer mental health: the emotional and moral toll of caring for animals that are going to be killed. Of the 287 survey participants, 115 were current or former livestock farmers.

Presently in peer review for publication, below we give you a preview of our findings:

  • 56% of livestock farmers feel extremely to moderately morally concerned about their work with animals.
  • 35% of livestock farmers have felt traumatised (deeply distressed or disturbed) by some of their work with animals.
  • 45% of farmers admit to suppressing feelings of compassion towards the animals they farm.
  • 49% say they would consider stopping farming animals entirely if there were other viable options that could generate equal or higher income.
  • 63% of livestock farmers said they would consider decreasing livestock numbers if there were other viable options that could generate equal or higher income.
  • 68% of livestock farmers said they would support government policies which incentivise alternative uses of agricultural land such as nature restoration, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy generation.
  • 74% of farmers endorsed government supported training to enable them to engage in other, profitable (non-livestock) initiatives such as alternative protein production, carbon sequestration, or renewable energy generation.

Clearly, farmers are affected by the moral paradox of caring for animals destined for slaughter and would trade this task for other financially viable opportunities were these available. The above findings also lend credence to our 2022 study which showed overwhelmingly that farmers are open and willing to change.

Contrary to the narratives of the farming unions and press, farmers are not attached to farming livestock, they are attached to making a living, and if the opportunity arises to do that in a way that excludes livestock, they will take it. The full survey report will be shared on our website after publication.


Posted on All-Creatures.org: October 10, 2024
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