Consumersʼ and farmersʼ perceptions in Europe regarding the use of composted bedding material from cattle

Klopčič, Marija (author), Erjavec, Karmen (author), Waldrop, Megan (author), Roosen, Jutta (author), Engel, Petra (author), Galama, Paul (author), Kuipers, Abele (author)

By-products like sawdust and straw are applied in compost bedded-pack barns (CBP) for cattle. These materials, which are gradually mixed with excreta and undergo a composting process, serve as a lying bed for the cattle. This study aims to assess the perception of consumers and farmers regarding the use of CBP during the grazing season of cattle for raising other animals or for growing food crops. This was examined by combining surveys with consumers from eight European countries and cattle farmers, focus groups with consumers, and in-depth interviews with individual farmers who implemented alternative uses of compost. The results showed that farmers preferred the compost bedded-pack system to the cubicle system in terms of sustainability and market aspects, although the cost of the bedding material required for CBP was seen as a significant negative aspect. Around half of all consumers indicated that the compost can be used for non-edible products and 26% indicated the compost can be used for raising other animals. Furthermore, 5% of consumers felt that compost should not be used for any other purpose. There were statistically significant differences between countries; therefore, regional specificities should be taken into account when marketing products from compost in CBP barns.

• Language: English
• Keywords: composting material, cattle housing, alternative use, produce, circular economy, marketing, farmer and consumer, perceptions
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 18 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 13, iss. 9, art. 5128
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-135455
• UDC: 636.2
• ISSN on article: 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su13095128
• COBISS.SI-ID: 61815811
• Publication date in RUL: 15.03.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Sustainability
• Shortened title: Sustainability
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2071-1050
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5324897

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 03.05.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: govedo, nastil, kompostni hlevi, potrošniki, rejci, ankete, EU

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: H2020
• Project number: 696231
• Name: European Research Area on Sustainable Animal Production Systems
• Acronym: SusAn

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: ERA-NET SusAn
• Acronym: FreeWalk