The attitudes, values, and daily practices of farmers and farm workers are crucial determinants of on-farm animal welfare — making farmer culture a key target for welfare improvement.
Animal welfare on farms is ultimately determined by the people who care for animals every day. Technical housing improvements matter, but a skilled, empathetic stockperson in poor housing often produces better welfare than an uninterested person with good equipment. Stockperson attitude — genuine care for the animals, curiosity about their needs, willingness to invest time in observation — is the most powerful determinant of farm welfare outcomes. Building positive stockperson culture requires training that addresses motivation and empathy alongside technical skills, and creating working conditions that allow people to take good care of animals.