Farm culture significantly affects animal welfare outcomes. Farmers who care deeply about their animals achieve better welfare than those who view animals primarily as production units.
Animal welfare ultimately depends on the people who interact with animals daily. Research consistently shows that farmer attitude toward animals - whether they view them as sentient beings deserving care or as production units - predicts welfare outcomes more strongly than housing type or regulation. Good stockmanship involves recognising subtle signs of welfare compromise, responding promptly, understanding species-specific behaviour, and caring about individual animal experience. This human dimension of welfare is often overlooked in regulatory and technical approaches. Building a farming culture that values and rewards good stockmanship is essential for welfare improvement.