The Rural Voice, 1998-10, Page 54PERTH
Andy DeVries, R.R. #1, Atwood NOG 1 BO Phone/Fax 519-356-2133
PCFA Office 229-6430 Fax 229-6269 e-mail: perth@ofa.on.ca
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
• The Rural Voice is provided to farmers
in Perth County by the PCFA.
Canadian opinion on farm animals unchanged
According to the 1998 public
opinion survey on farm animal
treatment, the vast majority of
Canadians continue to believe that
farm animals are treated humanely
but feel they are not well informed
about issues dealing with perceived
animal treatment. For the fifth year in
a row, Canadians were asked their
opinions in a national telephone
survey on animal agriculture. The
1998 tracking study of public opinion
was conducted among 764 people in
Toronto, Montreal, Calgary,
Edmonton and Vancouver in March.
When asked directly if they think
Canadian farmers treat their animals
humanely, the vast majority (72 per
cent) of respondents indicated they
believe farm animals ARE treated
humanely. While 13 per cent
indicated they believe farm animals
arc not treated humanely, a further 14
per cent responded they "didn't
know". The 1998 results are largely
unchanged from previous years.
Since this question was first asked in
1993 (the question was not asked in
1997) responses have ranged from 65
- 72 per cent for those who believe
farm animals ARE treated humanely,
8 - 13 per ccnt for those who feel
farm animals ARE NOT treated
humanely and 14 - 24 per cent for
HARVEST DAY
TOURS
Perth County's
5th Annual
Harvest Day
Sunday, October 4, 1998
10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information or to
volunteer, Cali Barb Quarry,
Tourism Stratford at 271-5140
50 THE RURAL VOICE
those who "didn't know".
Regional differences in opinion
continue to reflect those of previous
surveys with Calgary respondents
having the strongest opinion (79 per
cent) that farm animals ARE treated
humanely. The strongest opinion that
farm animals ARE NOT treated
humanely continues to be seen in
Vancouver (19 per cent) and
Montreal (16 per cent). Among
Toronto respondents, 70 per cent
agree farmers treat their animals
humanely with 11 per cent
disagreeing and 13 per cent
undecided. Those of English ethnic
origin are somewhat more likely to
claim that Canadian farmers treat
their animals humanely as compared
to those of French, European or
Asian backgrounds.
Meanwhile, Canadian consumers
do not consider themselves to be
overly well informed about the way
different farm animals are treated. In
1998, only a third (33 per cent)
consider themselves to be informed
while 37 per cent consider
themselves to be not informed. Those
in Western Canada, particularly
Vancouver and Edmonton consider
themselves to be the most informed
on issues regarding farm animal
treatment, while those in Montreal
consider themselves to be the least
informed.
OFAC is grateful to the Beef
Information Centre for providing
these survey questions as part of their
animal consumer tracking study. For
purposes of comparison, some of the
questions asked arc consistent with
those on the Animal Industry
Foundation national public opinion
survey initiated in 1988.0
- reprinted from the Ontario Farm
Animal Council Newsletter
OFA
CONVENTION
"Shaping our Success"
November 23 - 24, 1998
International Plaza,Toronto
PERTH COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
ANNUAL MEETING
Banquet and Annual
Meeting
Thursday, October 15, 1998
Milverton Community Centre, Milverton
Banquet 7:00 p.m.
Speaker and meeting to follow
Guest Speaker: Marsha Bolton
Tickets available from County Directors or call 229-6430