Stakeholder Perceptions of Animal Welfare as a Component of Sustainable Beef Programs in the United States-A Pilot Study.

This study aimed to investigate how stakeholders in the United States beef industry incorporate animal welfare into their sustainability programs. A survey was administered online to the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef membership. Twenty-seven surveys were analyzed. Most respondents ( n = 26, 96%) had sustainability programs that incorporated animal welfare. Most respondents believed that welfare positively impacted environmental ( n = 25/26, 96%), economic ( n = 25/26, 96%), and social ( n = 26/26, 100%) sustainability. The thematic analysis of five free response questions identified ten themes: Animal Care, Regulations and Guidelines, Responsibility, Consumers and Stakeholders, Performance and Efficiency, Financial Impact, Connectedness, Critical Component, Animal-based Outcomes, and Employees. When asked to define welfare, the most common themes were Animal Care and Regulations and Guidelines. When asked why welfare was a component of their sustainability program, the top factors from a provided list were: cattle health ( n = 20, 74%), cattle performance ( n = 12, 44%), and consumer perceptions ( n = 12, 44%). Findings suggest a widespread recognition of animal welfare's importance within sustainable beef production.