IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/apecpp/v47y2025i3p949-964.html

The role of intrinsic motivation and continuous enhancement on the intention to implement animal welfare practices in dairy farming

Author

Listed:
  • Henrike Grotsch
  • Marcus Mergenthaler
  • Sarah Kühl
  • Holger Schulze

Abstract

Animal welfare programs alone are insufficient to ensure better welfare for farm animals. Effective farm management, driven by dairy farmers' intrinsic motivation, plays a pivotal role. This study examines the factors influencing dairy farmers' intention to implement animal welfare practices and their commitment to continuously enhancing welfare. Based on a survey of 682 German dairy farmers, the results underscore the importance of intrinsic motivation, habitual behavior, and knowledge acquisition. Farmers' willingness to engage in continuous improvement suggests that policies should focus less on formal programs and more on enabling intrinsic motivation. The study introduces the construct of “continuous enhancement,” offering a novel framework for understanding and improving animal welfare practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Henrike Grotsch & Marcus Mergenthaler & Sarah Kühl & Holger Schulze, 2025. "The role of intrinsic motivation and continuous enhancement on the intention to implement animal welfare practices in dairy farming," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 47(3), pages 949-964, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:apecpp:v:47:y:2025:i:3:p:949-964
    DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13506
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13506
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/aepp.13506?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Arne Henningsen & Tomasz Gerard Czekaj & Björn Forkman & Mogens Lund & Aske Schou Nielsen, 2018. "The Relationship between Animal Welfare and Economic Performance at Farm Level: A Quantitative Study of Danish Pig Producers," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 69(1), pages 142-162, February.
    2. Enneking, Ulrich & Obersojer, Thomas & Kratzmair, Marion, 2007. "Faktoren für die Zufriedenheit mit Qualitätssystemen aus Sicht der Primärerzeuger," German Journal of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Department for Agricultural Economics, vol. 56(02), pages 1-13.
    3. Lefebvre, Marianne & Raggi, Meri & Gomez Y Paloma, Sergio & Viaggi, Davide, 2014. "An analysis of the intention-realisation discrepancy in EU farmers’ land investment decisions," Revue d'Etudes en Agriculture et Environnement, Editions NecPlus, vol. 95(01), pages 51-75, March.
    4. Mergenthaler, Marcus & Schröter, Iris, 2020. "Institutionelle Grenzen und Perspektiven bei der ökonomischen Bewertung und der Bereitstellung von Tierwohl," 60th Annual Conference, Halle/ Saale, Germany, September 23-25, 2020 305598, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    5. Peter Howley, 2015. "The Happy Farmer: The Effect of Nonpecuniary Benefits on Behavior," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 97(4), pages 1072-1086.
    6. Hennessy, Thia & Kinsella, Anne & Thorne, Fiona, 2016. "Planned intentions versus actual behaviour: assessing the reliability of intention surveys in predicting farmers’ production levels post decoupling," International Journal of Agricultural Management, Institute of Agricultural Management, vol. 5(3), July.
    7. Hölker, Sarah & Steinfath, Holmer & von Meyer-Höfer, Marie & Spiller, Achim, . "Tierethische Intuitionen in Deutschland: Entwicklung eines Messinstrumentes zur Erfassung bereichsspezifischer Werte im Kontext der Mensch-Tier-Beziehung," German Journal of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Department for Agricultural Economics, vol. 68(4).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Leduc, Gaëlle & Billaudet, Larissa & Engström, Ebba & Hansson, Helena & Ryan, Mary, 2023. "Farmers' perceived values in conventional and organic farming: A comparison between French, Irish and Swedish farmers using the Means-end chain approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    2. Carmen De-Pablos-Heredero & Jose Luis Montes-Botella & Antón García-Martínez, 2018. "Sustainability in Smart Farms: Its Impact on Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-16, May.
    3. Bang, Rasmus & Hansen, Bjørn Gunnar & Guajardo, Mario & Sommerseth, Jon Kristian & Flaten, Ola & Asheim, Leif Jarle, 2024. "Conventional or organic cattle farming? Trade-offs between crop yield, livestock capacity, organic premiums, and government payments," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    4. Busch, Gesa & Spiller, Achim, 2020. "Warum wir eine Tierschutzsteuer brauchen: Die Bürger-Konsumenten-Lücke," DARE Discussion Papers 2001, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (DARE).
    5. Huber, Robert & Bakker, Martha & Balmann, Alfons & Berger, Thomas & Bithell, Mike & Brown, Calum & Grêt-Regamey, Adrienne & Xiong, Hang & Le, Quang Bao & Mack, Gabriele & Meyfroidt, Patrick & Millingt, 2018. "Representation of decision-making in European agricultural agent-based models," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 143-160.
    6. Claire Jack & Austen Ashfield & Adewale Henry Adenuga & Conall Mullan, 2021. "Farm Diversification: Drivers, Barriers and Future Growth Potential," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 20(2), pages 70-75, August.
    7. Saint-Cyr, Legrand D. F., 2016. "Accounting for farm heterogeneity in the assessment of agricultural policy impacts on structural change," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235778, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Kristin Jürkenbeck & Achim Spiller, 2020. "Consumers’ Evaluation of Stockfree-Organic Agriculture—A Segmentation Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-19, May.
    9. Robert Huber & Hang Xiong & Kevin Keller & Robert Finger, 2022. "Bridging behavioural factors and standard bio‐economic modelling in an agent‐based modelling framework," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(1), pages 35-63, February.
    10. Viviana Garcia & Niklas Möhring & Yanbing Wang & Robert Finger, 2026. "Farmer behavior toward herbicide‐free agriculture and conservation tillage," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 108(1), pages 28-53, January.
    11. Veronika Hannus & Johannes Sauer, 2021. "Understanding Farmers’ Intention to Use a Sustainability Standard: The Role of Economic Rewards, Knowledge, and Ease of Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-21, September.
    12. Troncoso, Ricardo & Cabas, Juan & Guesmi, Bouali & Gil, José María, . "A cross-country comparison of pig production systems performance: Evidence from EU countries," Economia Agraria y Recursos Naturales, Spanish Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 23(02).
    13. Uehleke, Reinhard & Seifert, Stefan & Hüttel, Silke, "undated". "Animal welfare and production efficiency in German pork production," 60th Annual Conference, Halle/ Saale, Germany, September 23-25, 2020 305600, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    14. Mergenthaler, Marcus & Schröter, Iris, "undated". "Institutionelle Grenzen und Perspektiven bei der ökonomischen Bewertung und der Bereitstellung von Tierwohl," 60th Annual Conference, Halle/ Saale, Germany, September 23-25, 2020 305598, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    15. Marianne Lefebvre & Kim De Cuyper & Ellen Loix & Davide Viaggi & Sergio Gomez y Paloma, 2014. "European Farmers intentions to invest in 2014-2020: survey results," JRC Research Reports JRC90441, Joint Research Centre.
    16. Bethan Thompson & Gaëlle Leduc & Gordana Manevska‐Tasevska & Luiza Toma & Helena Hansson, 2024. "Farmers' adoption of ecological practices: A systematic literature map," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 75(1), pages 84-107, February.
    17. Adewale Henry Adenuga & Claire Jack & Ronan McCarry, 2023. "Investigating the Factors Influencing the Intention to Adopt Long-Term Land Leasing in Northern Ireland," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, March.
    18. Mysko, Larissa & Minviel, Jean-Joseph & Veysset, Patrick & Veissier, Isabelle, 2024. "How to concurrently achieve economic, environmental, and animal welfare performances in French suckler cattle farms," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    19. Legrand D. F. Saint‐Cyr, 2022. "Heterogeneous farm‐size dynamics and impacts of subsidies from agricultural policy: Evidence from France," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(3), pages 893-923, September.
    20. Peter Howley & Neel Ocean, 2022. "Can nudging only get you so far? Testing for nudge combination effects," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 49(5), pages 1086-1112.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:apecpp:v:47:y:2025:i:3:p:949-964. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://doi.org/10.1002/(ISSN)2040-5804 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.