TY  - JOUR
AU  - Tomašević, Igor
AU  - Bursać-Kovačević, Danijela
AU  - Jambrak, Anet Rezek
AU  - Zsolt, Szendro
AU  - Zotte, Antonella Dalle
AU  - Martinović, Aleksandra
AU  - Prodanov, Mirko
AU  - Solowiej, Bartosz
AU  - Sirbu, Alexandrina
AU  - Subić, Jonel
AU  - Roljević, Svetlana
AU  - Semenova, Anastasia
AU  - Krocko, Miro
AU  - Duckova, Viera
AU  - Getya, Andriy
AU  - Kravchenko, Oksana
AU  - Đekić, Ilija
PY  - 2020
UR  - http://aspace.agrif.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5403
AB  - This investigation provides an important insight into the Central and Eastern European food industry, beyond traditional food safety management and reflects on its food safety (FS) climate or the human route of its FS culture. Investigation was conducted in 10 Central and Eastern European countries involving more than 500 food companies. Overall FS climate was assessed as good. The availability of infrastructure was perceived the same in all countries although "resources" was the lowest scored climate component. Uncertainty avoiding national cultures had a stronger preference towards written FS procedures and instructions. FS climate was better assessed in bigger companies because small companies observed weaker availability of resources, smaller number of procedures and instructions and reduced risk awareness. FS communication and commitment were not affected by company size. The share of food companies without FS system was five times higher in small compared to big companies. No effect of FS management level or riskiness level on FS climate scores was apparent. Food companies seemed to avoid problems in cooperation and trust between FS leaders and other employees, since they have perceived FS climate similarly. The strongest FS climate segmentation in Central and Eastern Europe food companies was observed in terms of the EU membership status. EU operating food companies managed to develop a very good and distinctive FS climate, with better-perceived leadership, communication, commitment, resources and risk awareness than non-EU food companies. Transitional economic environment of non-EU countries have undesirably influenced the organisational and technological support in their companies and employees perceptions of FS climate.
PB  - Elsevier Sci Ltd, Oxford
T2  - Food Control
T1  - Comprehensive insight into the food safety climate in Central and Eastern Europe
VL  - 114
DO  - 10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107238
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Tomašević, Igor and Bursać-Kovačević, Danijela and Jambrak, Anet Rezek and Zsolt, Szendro and Zotte, Antonella Dalle and Martinović, Aleksandra and Prodanov, Mirko and Solowiej, Bartosz and Sirbu, Alexandrina and Subić, Jonel and Roljević, Svetlana and Semenova, Anastasia and Krocko, Miro and Duckova, Viera and Getya, Andriy and Kravchenko, Oksana and Đekić, Ilija",
year = "2020",
abstract = "This investigation provides an important insight into the Central and Eastern European food industry, beyond traditional food safety management and reflects on its food safety (FS) climate or the human route of its FS culture. Investigation was conducted in 10 Central and Eastern European countries involving more than 500 food companies. Overall FS climate was assessed as good. The availability of infrastructure was perceived the same in all countries although "resources" was the lowest scored climate component. Uncertainty avoiding national cultures had a stronger preference towards written FS procedures and instructions. FS climate was better assessed in bigger companies because small companies observed weaker availability of resources, smaller number of procedures and instructions and reduced risk awareness. FS communication and commitment were not affected by company size. The share of food companies without FS system was five times higher in small compared to big companies. No effect of FS management level or riskiness level on FS climate scores was apparent. Food companies seemed to avoid problems in cooperation and trust between FS leaders and other employees, since they have perceived FS climate similarly. The strongest FS climate segmentation in Central and Eastern Europe food companies was observed in terms of the EU membership status. EU operating food companies managed to develop a very good and distinctive FS climate, with better-perceived leadership, communication, commitment, resources and risk awareness than non-EU food companies. Transitional economic environment of non-EU countries have undesirably influenced the organisational and technological support in their companies and employees perceptions of FS climate.",
publisher = "Elsevier Sci Ltd, Oxford",
journal = "Food Control",
title = "Comprehensive insight into the food safety climate in Central and Eastern Europe",
volume = "114",
doi = "10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107238"
}

Tomašević, I., Bursać-Kovačević, D., Jambrak, A. R., Zsolt, S., Zotte, A. D., Martinović, A., Prodanov, M., Solowiej, B., Sirbu, A., Subić, J., Roljević, S., Semenova, A., Krocko, M., Duckova, V., Getya, A., Kravchenko, O.,& Đekić, I.. (2020). Comprehensive insight into the food safety climate in Central and Eastern Europe. in Food Control
Elsevier Sci Ltd, Oxford., 114.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107238

Tomašević I, Bursać-Kovačević D, Jambrak AR, Zsolt S, Zotte AD, Martinović A, Prodanov M, Solowiej B, Sirbu A, Subić J, Roljević S, Semenova A, Krocko M, Duckova V, Getya A, Kravchenko O, Đekić I. Comprehensive insight into the food safety climate in Central and Eastern Europe. in Food Control. 2020;114.
doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107238 .

Tomašević, Igor, Bursać-Kovačević, Danijela, Jambrak, Anet Rezek, Zsolt, Szendro, Zotte, Antonella Dalle, Martinović, Aleksandra, Prodanov, Mirko, Solowiej, Bartosz, Sirbu, Alexandrina, Subić, Jonel, Roljević, Svetlana, Semenova, Anastasia, Krocko, Miro, Duckova, Viera, Getya, Andriy, Kravchenko, Oksana, Đekić, Ilija, "Comprehensive insight into the food safety climate in Central and Eastern Europe" in Food Control, 114 (2020),
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107238 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Tomašević, Igor
AU  - Bursać-Kovačević, Danijela
AU  - Jambrak, Anet Rezek
AU  - Szendro, Katalin
AU  - Zotte, Antonella Dalle
AU  - Prodanov, Mirko
AU  - Solowiej, Bartosz
AU  - Sirbu, Alexandrina
AU  - Subić, Jonel
AU  - Roljević, Svetlana
AU  - Semenova, Anastasia
AU  - Krocko, Miro
AU  - Duckova, Viera
AU  - Getya, Andriy
AU  - Kravchenko, Oksana
AU  - Đekić, Ilija
PY  - 2020
UR  - http://aspace.agrif.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5410
AB  - Important insight into the Central and Eastern European food industry, beyond traditional food safety (FS) management and reflects on its food safety climate or the human route of its food safety culture is provided. Novel FS climate self-assessment tool was developed and validated by 65 FS experts from governmental agencies, third party certification bodies, food sector associations, universities and food industry. Three original FS climate components: FS knowledge, business priorities and FS legislation, were introduced and their nine components were assessed in nine Central and Eastern European countries involving 470 food companies. FS knowledge was better assessed in big and medium sized than in small companies. Knowledge component was equally assessed as good, irrespective of the FS risk profile of the food company surveyed while certified FS management system was charted by higher FS knowledge scores within a same food company. Business priorities in Central and Eastern European food organizations were related to hygiene and food safety and were always put before profit regardless of the company size. Hygiene and food safety were seen equality as a critical business success factor irrespective of the associated level of riskiness. FS climate legislation component in all food organizations surveyed was assessed affirmatively. Central and Eastern European food companies seemed to avoid problems in cooperation and trust between food safety leaders and other employees, since they have perceived FS climate highly and similarly. EU operating food companies had comparable overall FS climate to non-EU companies mostly because they have equally perceived their business priorities and appropriateness of associated FS legislation. The only exception was the FS knowledge that was better assessed in EU than non-EU food enterprises.
PB  - Elsevier Sci Ltd, Oxford
T2  - Food Control
T1  - Validation of novel food safety climate components and assessment of their indicators in Central and Eastern European food industry
VL  - 117
DO  - 10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107357
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Tomašević, Igor and Bursać-Kovačević, Danijela and Jambrak, Anet Rezek and Szendro, Katalin and Zotte, Antonella Dalle and Prodanov, Mirko and Solowiej, Bartosz and Sirbu, Alexandrina and Subić, Jonel and Roljević, Svetlana and Semenova, Anastasia and Krocko, Miro and Duckova, Viera and Getya, Andriy and Kravchenko, Oksana and Đekić, Ilija",
year = "2020",
abstract = "Important insight into the Central and Eastern European food industry, beyond traditional food safety (FS) management and reflects on its food safety climate or the human route of its food safety culture is provided. Novel FS climate self-assessment tool was developed and validated by 65 FS experts from governmental agencies, third party certification bodies, food sector associations, universities and food industry. Three original FS climate components: FS knowledge, business priorities and FS legislation, were introduced and their nine components were assessed in nine Central and Eastern European countries involving 470 food companies. FS knowledge was better assessed in big and medium sized than in small companies. Knowledge component was equally assessed as good, irrespective of the FS risk profile of the food company surveyed while certified FS management system was charted by higher FS knowledge scores within a same food company. Business priorities in Central and Eastern European food organizations were related to hygiene and food safety and were always put before profit regardless of the company size. Hygiene and food safety were seen equality as a critical business success factor irrespective of the associated level of riskiness. FS climate legislation component in all food organizations surveyed was assessed affirmatively. Central and Eastern European food companies seemed to avoid problems in cooperation and trust between food safety leaders and other employees, since they have perceived FS climate highly and similarly. EU operating food companies had comparable overall FS climate to non-EU companies mostly because they have equally perceived their business priorities and appropriateness of associated FS legislation. The only exception was the FS knowledge that was better assessed in EU than non-EU food enterprises.",
publisher = "Elsevier Sci Ltd, Oxford",
journal = "Food Control",
title = "Validation of novel food safety climate components and assessment of their indicators in Central and Eastern European food industry",
volume = "117",
doi = "10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107357"
}

Tomašević, I., Bursać-Kovačević, D., Jambrak, A. R., Szendro, K., Zotte, A. D., Prodanov, M., Solowiej, B., Sirbu, A., Subić, J., Roljević, S., Semenova, A., Krocko, M., Duckova, V., Getya, A., Kravchenko, O.,& Đekić, I.. (2020). Validation of novel food safety climate components and assessment of their indicators in Central and Eastern European food industry. in Food Control
Elsevier Sci Ltd, Oxford., 117.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107357

Tomašević I, Bursać-Kovačević D, Jambrak AR, Szendro K, Zotte AD, Prodanov M, Solowiej B, Sirbu A, Subić J, Roljević S, Semenova A, Krocko M, Duckova V, Getya A, Kravchenko O, Đekić I. Validation of novel food safety climate components and assessment of their indicators in Central and Eastern European food industry. in Food Control. 2020;117.
doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107357 .

Tomašević, Igor, Bursać-Kovačević, Danijela, Jambrak, Anet Rezek, Szendro, Katalin, Zotte, Antonella Dalle, Prodanov, Mirko, Solowiej, Bartosz, Sirbu, Alexandrina, Subić, Jonel, Roljević, Svetlana, Semenova, Anastasia, Krocko, Miro, Duckova, Viera, Getya, Andriy, Kravchenko, Oksana, Đekić, Ilija, "Validation of novel food safety climate components and assessment of their indicators in Central and Eastern European food industry" in Food Control, 117 (2020),
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107357 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Tomašević, Igor
AU  - Bahelka, Ivan
AU  - Citek, Jaroslav
AU  - Čandek-Potokar, Marjeta
AU  - Đekić, Ilija
AU  - Getya, Andriy
AU  - Guerrero, Luis
AU  - Ivanova, Sonya
AU  - Kusec, Goran
AU  - Nakov, Dimitar
AU  - Solowiej, Bartosz
AU  - Stoica, Maricica
AU  - Szabo, Csaba
AU  - Tudoreanu, Liliana
AU  - Weiler, Ulrike
AU  - Font-i-Furnols, Maria
PY  - 2020
UR  - http://aspace.agrif.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5245
AB  - Simple Summary A survey was conducted with 5508 consumers from 13 Eastern European countries. Three clusters of consumers were identified: one with consumers indifferent towards animal welfare; one with consumers concerned about animal welfare, but they believe it is difficult to achieve; and one with consumers concerned about animal welfare, and they believe it is possible to achieve it. The aim of this exploratory work, because of the existing bias on the size of the sample and some of the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, was to investigate the Eastern European consumers' beliefs and attitudes toward animal welfare, to perform a cross-country segmentation analysis and to observe possible differences with their Western European counterparts. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with 5508 consumers from 13 Eastern European countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, North Macedonia, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine) using a questionnaire with nine statements about consumers beliefs regarding animal welfare (aspects of management, ethical issues about animals, and consequences of animal welfare on meat quality and price), one statement about the willingness to pay more for meat produced under better welfare conditions, and four statements regarding attitudes toward animal welfare. Differences between countries were detected for all the statements. Moreover, three clusters of consumers were identified: one with consumers indifferent towards animal welfare; one with consumers concerned about animal welfare, but they believe it is difficult to achieve; and one with consumers concerned about animal welfare, and they believe it is possible to achieve it.
PB  - MDPI, BASEL
T2  - Animals
T1  - Attitudes and Beliefs of Eastern European Consumers Towards Animal Welfare
IS  - 7
VL  - 10
DO  - 10.3390/ani10071220
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Tomašević, Igor and Bahelka, Ivan and Citek, Jaroslav and Čandek-Potokar, Marjeta and Đekić, Ilija and Getya, Andriy and Guerrero, Luis and Ivanova, Sonya and Kusec, Goran and Nakov, Dimitar and Solowiej, Bartosz and Stoica, Maricica and Szabo, Csaba and Tudoreanu, Liliana and Weiler, Ulrike and Font-i-Furnols, Maria",
year = "2020",
abstract = "Simple Summary A survey was conducted with 5508 consumers from 13 Eastern European countries. Three clusters of consumers were identified: one with consumers indifferent towards animal welfare; one with consumers concerned about animal welfare, but they believe it is difficult to achieve; and one with consumers concerned about animal welfare, and they believe it is possible to achieve it. The aim of this exploratory work, because of the existing bias on the size of the sample and some of the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, was to investigate the Eastern European consumers' beliefs and attitudes toward animal welfare, to perform a cross-country segmentation analysis and to observe possible differences with their Western European counterparts. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with 5508 consumers from 13 Eastern European countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, North Macedonia, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine) using a questionnaire with nine statements about consumers beliefs regarding animal welfare (aspects of management, ethical issues about animals, and consequences of animal welfare on meat quality and price), one statement about the willingness to pay more for meat produced under better welfare conditions, and four statements regarding attitudes toward animal welfare. Differences between countries were detected for all the statements. Moreover, three clusters of consumers were identified: one with consumers indifferent towards animal welfare; one with consumers concerned about animal welfare, but they believe it is difficult to achieve; and one with consumers concerned about animal welfare, and they believe it is possible to achieve it.",
publisher = "MDPI, BASEL",
journal = "Animals",
title = "Attitudes and Beliefs of Eastern European Consumers Towards Animal Welfare",
number = "7",
volume = "10",
doi = "10.3390/ani10071220"
}

Tomašević, I., Bahelka, I., Citek, J., Čandek-Potokar, M., Đekić, I., Getya, A., Guerrero, L., Ivanova, S., Kusec, G., Nakov, D., Solowiej, B., Stoica, M., Szabo, C., Tudoreanu, L., Weiler, U.,& Font-i-Furnols, M.. (2020). Attitudes and Beliefs of Eastern European Consumers Towards Animal Welfare. in Animals
MDPI, BASEL., 10(7).
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071220

Tomašević I, Bahelka I, Citek J, Čandek-Potokar M, Đekić I, Getya A, Guerrero L, Ivanova S, Kusec G, Nakov D, Solowiej B, Stoica M, Szabo C, Tudoreanu L, Weiler U, Font-i-Furnols M. Attitudes and Beliefs of Eastern European Consumers Towards Animal Welfare. in Animals. 2020;10(7).
doi:10.3390/ani10071220 .

Tomašević, Igor, Bahelka, Ivan, Citek, Jaroslav, Čandek-Potokar, Marjeta, Đekić, Ilija, Getya, Andriy, Guerrero, Luis, Ivanova, Sonya, Kusec, Goran, Nakov, Dimitar, Solowiej, Bartosz, Stoica, Maricica, Szabo, Csaba, Tudoreanu, Liliana, Weiler, Ulrike, Font-i-Furnols, Maria, "Attitudes and Beliefs of Eastern European Consumers Towards Animal Welfare" in Animals, 10, no. 7 (2020),
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071220 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Tomašević, Igor
AU  - Bahelka, Ivan
AU  - Čandek-Potokar, Marjeta
AU  - Citek, Jaroslav
AU  - Đekić, Ilija
AU  - Djurkin Kusec, Ivona
AU  - Getya, Andriy
AU  - Guerrero, Luis
AU  - Iordachescu, Gabriela
AU  - Ivanova, Sonya
AU  - Nakov, Dimitar
AU  - Solowiej, Bartosz
AU  - Szabo, Csaba
AU  - Tudoreanu, Liliana
AU  - Weiler, Ulrike
AU  - Font-i-Furnols, Maria
PY  - 2020
UR  - http://aspace.agrif.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5359
AB  - Castration of male piglets is a common practice to avoid boar taint but is being questioned. The present work has an exploratory character and aims to investigate the beliefs and attitudes of Eastern European consumers regarding boar taint, surgical castration immunocastration and perception of meat from castrated pigs and to find out possible segments of consumers regarding these attitudes and beliefs. For this purpose, a consumer study was carried out involving 5508 consumers from 13 Eastern European countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, North Macedonia, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine). The questionnaire included statements related to beliefs about castration and perception of meat from castrated pigs, attitudes towards meat from castrated pigs. Results show that in general beliefs and attitudes of the consumers are not defined, probably because of the lack of knowledge (information was not provided to the consumers) towards these issues. Three different clusters of consumers were obtained with different beliefs towards castration.
PB  - Elsevier Sci Ltd, Oxford
T2  - Meat Science
T1  - Attitudes and beliefs of Eastern European consumers towards piglet castration and meat from castrated pigs
VL  - 160
DO  - 10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.107965
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Tomašević, Igor and Bahelka, Ivan and Čandek-Potokar, Marjeta and Citek, Jaroslav and Đekić, Ilija and Djurkin Kusec, Ivona and Getya, Andriy and Guerrero, Luis and Iordachescu, Gabriela and Ivanova, Sonya and Nakov, Dimitar and Solowiej, Bartosz and Szabo, Csaba and Tudoreanu, Liliana and Weiler, Ulrike and Font-i-Furnols, Maria",
year = "2020",
abstract = "Castration of male piglets is a common practice to avoid boar taint but is being questioned. The present work has an exploratory character and aims to investigate the beliefs and attitudes of Eastern European consumers regarding boar taint, surgical castration immunocastration and perception of meat from castrated pigs and to find out possible segments of consumers regarding these attitudes and beliefs. For this purpose, a consumer study was carried out involving 5508 consumers from 13 Eastern European countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, North Macedonia, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine). The questionnaire included statements related to beliefs about castration and perception of meat from castrated pigs, attitudes towards meat from castrated pigs. Results show that in general beliefs and attitudes of the consumers are not defined, probably because of the lack of knowledge (information was not provided to the consumers) towards these issues. Three different clusters of consumers were obtained with different beliefs towards castration.",
publisher = "Elsevier Sci Ltd, Oxford",
journal = "Meat Science",
title = "Attitudes and beliefs of Eastern European consumers towards piglet castration and meat from castrated pigs",
volume = "160",
doi = "10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.107965"
}

Tomašević, I., Bahelka, I., Čandek-Potokar, M., Citek, J., Đekić, I., Djurkin Kusec, I., Getya, A., Guerrero, L., Iordachescu, G., Ivanova, S., Nakov, D., Solowiej, B., Szabo, C., Tudoreanu, L., Weiler, U.,& Font-i-Furnols, M.. (2020). Attitudes and beliefs of Eastern European consumers towards piglet castration and meat from castrated pigs. in Meat Science
Elsevier Sci Ltd, Oxford., 160.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.107965

Tomašević I, Bahelka I, Čandek-Potokar M, Citek J, Đekić I, Djurkin Kusec I, Getya A, Guerrero L, Iordachescu G, Ivanova S, Nakov D, Solowiej B, Szabo C, Tudoreanu L, Weiler U, Font-i-Furnols M. Attitudes and beliefs of Eastern European consumers towards piglet castration and meat from castrated pigs. in Meat Science. 2020;160.
doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.107965 .

Tomašević, Igor, Bahelka, Ivan, Čandek-Potokar, Marjeta, Citek, Jaroslav, Đekić, Ilija, Djurkin Kusec, Ivona, Getya, Andriy, Guerrero, Luis, Iordachescu, Gabriela, Ivanova, Sonya, Nakov, Dimitar, Solowiej, Bartosz, Szabo, Csaba, Tudoreanu, Liliana, Weiler, Ulrike, Font-i-Furnols, Maria, "Attitudes and beliefs of Eastern European consumers towards piglet castration and meat from castrated pigs" in Meat Science, 160 (2020),
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.107965 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Aluwe, Marijke
AU  - Heyrman, Evert
AU  - Almeida, Joao M.
AU  - Babol, Jakub
AU  - Battacone, Gianni
AU  - Citek, Jaroslav
AU  - Font-i-Furnols, Maria
AU  - Getya, Andriy
AU  - Karolyi, Danijel
AU  - Kostyra, Eliza
AU  - Kress, Kevin
AU  - Kusec, Goran
AU  - Moerlein, Daniel
AU  - Semenova, Anastasia
AU  - Skrlep, Martin
AU  - Stoyanchev, Todor
AU  - Tomašević, Igor
AU  - Tudoreanu, Liliana
AU  - Van Son, Maren
AU  - Zakowska-Biemans, Sylwia
AU  - Zamaratskaia, Galia
AU  - Van den Broeke, Alice
AU  - Egea, Macarena
PY  - 2020
UR  - http://aspace.agrif.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5302
AB  - Simple Summary In many countries, surgical castration of piglets without pain relief or anaesthesia is still common practice. Castration is performed to minimise the incidence of boar taint, a bad taste (urine/fecal like), typically present in the meat of 5 to 10% of uncastrated male pigs. It also helps to avoid aggressive and sexual behaviour. For animal welfare reasons, alternatives are being considered, and in some countries, an alternative is already practiced. One option is to perform surgical castration with anaesthesia and relieve pain. A second option is to produce male pigs without castration, which requires detection of tainted carcasses in the slaughter house. A third option is to apply immunocastration: by a two-fold injection of a vaccine, the testes function is inhibited, which reduces boar-like behaviour and avoids boar taint. In this study, we evaluated the acceptability of each of these methods in 16 countries in Europe. Of the 4 presented options, the practice of surgical castration was least accepted (32%), whilst there was a high acceptance of castration with anaesthesia (85%), followed by immunocastration (71%) and production of boars (49%). The developed questionnaire and infographic can be used in future studies to further gain insights in consumer and stakeholder attitudes on this topic. Surgical castration of piglets without pain relief is still common practice in many countries. Possible alternatives for surgical castration are application of pain relief or anaesthesia or production of boars (entire males) and immunocastrates. Each of these alternatives faces advantages and disadvantages which may result in different citizen attitudes and consumers acceptability. Understanding which practice is acceptable to whom and why may further stimulate implementation. Consumer (n = 3251) and stakeholder (n = 1027) attitudes towards surgical castration without pain relief, surgical castration with anaesthesia, immunocastration, and production of boars were surveyed from April to June 2020 via an online questionnaire in 16 countries (>175 respondents per country). Surgical castration without pain relief was separated from each of the alternatives due to animal welfare and showed the lowest acceptability (32%). Within the alternatives, a further partitioning between the alternatives was based on perceived quality and food safety, with an acceptance of 85% for applying anaesthesia, 71% for immunocastration, and 49% for boar production. Differences depending on professional involvement and familiarity with agriculture could be observed, mainly for the acceptance of surgical castration without anaesthesia, immunocastration, and boars. Castration with anaesthesia was highly accepted by all types of respondents.
PB  - MDPI, BASEL
T2  - Animals
T1  - Exploratory Survey on European Consumer and Stakeholder Attitudes towards Alternatives for Surgical Castration of Piglets
IS  - 10
VL  - 10
DO  - 10.3390/ani10101758
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Aluwe, Marijke and Heyrman, Evert and Almeida, Joao M. and Babol, Jakub and Battacone, Gianni and Citek, Jaroslav and Font-i-Furnols, Maria and Getya, Andriy and Karolyi, Danijel and Kostyra, Eliza and Kress, Kevin and Kusec, Goran and Moerlein, Daniel and Semenova, Anastasia and Skrlep, Martin and Stoyanchev, Todor and Tomašević, Igor and Tudoreanu, Liliana and Van Son, Maren and Zakowska-Biemans, Sylwia and Zamaratskaia, Galia and Van den Broeke, Alice and Egea, Macarena",
year = "2020",
abstract = "Simple Summary In many countries, surgical castration of piglets without pain relief or anaesthesia is still common practice. Castration is performed to minimise the incidence of boar taint, a bad taste (urine/fecal like), typically present in the meat of 5 to 10% of uncastrated male pigs. It also helps to avoid aggressive and sexual behaviour. For animal welfare reasons, alternatives are being considered, and in some countries, an alternative is already practiced. One option is to perform surgical castration with anaesthesia and relieve pain. A second option is to produce male pigs without castration, which requires detection of tainted carcasses in the slaughter house. A third option is to apply immunocastration: by a two-fold injection of a vaccine, the testes function is inhibited, which reduces boar-like behaviour and avoids boar taint. In this study, we evaluated the acceptability of each of these methods in 16 countries in Europe. Of the 4 presented options, the practice of surgical castration was least accepted (32%), whilst there was a high acceptance of castration with anaesthesia (85%), followed by immunocastration (71%) and production of boars (49%). The developed questionnaire and infographic can be used in future studies to further gain insights in consumer and stakeholder attitudes on this topic. Surgical castration of piglets without pain relief is still common practice in many countries. Possible alternatives for surgical castration are application of pain relief or anaesthesia or production of boars (entire males) and immunocastrates. Each of these alternatives faces advantages and disadvantages which may result in different citizen attitudes and consumers acceptability. Understanding which practice is acceptable to whom and why may further stimulate implementation. Consumer (n = 3251) and stakeholder (n = 1027) attitudes towards surgical castration without pain relief, surgical castration with anaesthesia, immunocastration, and production of boars were surveyed from April to June 2020 via an online questionnaire in 16 countries (>175 respondents per country). Surgical castration without pain relief was separated from each of the alternatives due to animal welfare and showed the lowest acceptability (32%). Within the alternatives, a further partitioning between the alternatives was based on perceived quality and food safety, with an acceptance of 85% for applying anaesthesia, 71% for immunocastration, and 49% for boar production. Differences depending on professional involvement and familiarity with agriculture could be observed, mainly for the acceptance of surgical castration without anaesthesia, immunocastration, and boars. Castration with anaesthesia was highly accepted by all types of respondents.",
publisher = "MDPI, BASEL",
journal = "Animals",
title = "Exploratory Survey on European Consumer and Stakeholder Attitudes towards Alternatives for Surgical Castration of Piglets",
number = "10",
volume = "10",
doi = "10.3390/ani10101758"
}

Aluwe, M., Heyrman, E., Almeida, J. M., Babol, J., Battacone, G., Citek, J., Font-i-Furnols, M., Getya, A., Karolyi, D., Kostyra, E., Kress, K., Kusec, G., Moerlein, D., Semenova, A., Skrlep, M., Stoyanchev, T., Tomašević, I., Tudoreanu, L., Van Son, M., Zakowska-Biemans, S., Zamaratskaia, G., Van den Broeke, A.,& Egea, M.. (2020). Exploratory Survey on European Consumer and Stakeholder Attitudes towards Alternatives for Surgical Castration of Piglets. in Animals
MDPI, BASEL., 10(10).
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101758

Aluwe M, Heyrman E, Almeida JM, Babol J, Battacone G, Citek J, Font-i-Furnols M, Getya A, Karolyi D, Kostyra E, Kress K, Kusec G, Moerlein D, Semenova A, Skrlep M, Stoyanchev T, Tomašević I, Tudoreanu L, Van Son M, Zakowska-Biemans S, Zamaratskaia G, Van den Broeke A, Egea M. Exploratory Survey on European Consumer and Stakeholder Attitudes towards Alternatives for Surgical Castration of Piglets. in Animals. 2020;10(10).
doi:10.3390/ani10101758 .

Aluwe, Marijke, Heyrman, Evert, Almeida, Joao M., Babol, Jakub, Battacone, Gianni, Citek, Jaroslav, Font-i-Furnols, Maria, Getya, Andriy, Karolyi, Danijel, Kostyra, Eliza, Kress, Kevin, Kusec, Goran, Moerlein, Daniel, Semenova, Anastasia, Skrlep, Martin, Stoyanchev, Todor, Tomašević, Igor, Tudoreanu, Liliana, Van Son, Maren, Zakowska-Biemans, Sylwia, Zamaratskaia, Galia, Van den Broeke, Alice, Egea, Macarena, "Exploratory Survey on European Consumer and Stakeholder Attitudes towards Alternatives for Surgical Castration of Piglets" in Animals, 10, no. 10 (2020),
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101758 . .