2022 Awareness Survey regarding Livestock Animals

Since 2016, Animal Rights Center Japan has been conducting a survey once a year using a private company to see how well the actual rearing of livestock animals is recognized by consumers.

We report the results of the survey conducted in 2022 (the number of valid responses was 1,214).

The questions are the following 10 items:

Do you know that many of the sows are trapped in a gestation crate, a narrow enclosure in which they can’t turn around?
Do you know that many of the piglets are castrated and have their teeth and tails clipped without anesthesia?
Do you know that many of the chickens for eggs are kept within small metal mesh enclosures called battery cages (about 22 cm x 22 cm per chicken)?
Do you know that many of the chickens for eggs have their beaks trimmed without anesthesia?
Do you know that chickens for meat (broilers) have been bred for faster growth and, as a result, are more susceptible to illness?
Do you know that many of the dairy cows spend most of their time tied up?
Do you know that many of the cattle are castrated and dehorned without anesthesia?
Do you know the term “animal welfare”?
Do you know that cage-free or free-range eggs are sold at supermarkets?
Do you know that rearing methods banned in Europe are practiced in Japan?

Respondents answered these questions by choosing from “I know”, “I’ve heard”, and “I don’t know”.

The average awareness of all ten issues

This year, we saw the highest awareness level since 2016.
(The “awareness” was calculated as the sum of the percentages of “I know” and “I’ve heard”.)

2022 Survey

[Survey name] Survey regarding livestock animals (meat / eggs / dairy)
[Surveying sponsor] Certified nonprofit organization Animal Rights Center Japan
[Survey period] 2022/3/16 – 2022/3/17
[Valid responses] 1,214
[Survey design] Via: internet survey (Net Monitor)
[Survey area] All of Japan
[Target condition] From Net Monitor, men & women ages 15+ were targeted

2016-2021 Awareness survey results

The survey data can be downloaded from the link at the bottom.
Please feel free to use, citing Animal Rights Center Japan.

The awareness level seems to have increased by ~1.5% on average for every question except there was little change regarding dairy cows.

■ I don’t know
■ I have heard
■ I know

Difference in the average awareness among generations

Each year, the trend has been that those in their 10s and 20s have he highest awareness regarding farmed animal welfare.

Compared to last year, the awareness increased especially among those in their 20s and 30s.
As the younger generations have higher awareness, we can expect the awareness to increase in the future.

However, about 80% of the people still respond “I don’t know” about the actual situations of farmed animals.

This year the awareness among the teens did not increase, but because the young generations are especially important going forward, we’d like to put more effort into communicating to students.