PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the main characteristics of the animal welfare specifications in different quality schemes of the French pig sector; to present the French pig farmers' attitudes towards animal welfare in general, and illustrate different quality schemes.Design/methodology/approachPrime source of data is interviews with 60 pig farmers. Supplementary sources are research reports and statistics, specifications of the quality schemes.FindingsOn many themes, the responses and attitudes of the farmers differ according to their participation or not in a quality assurance scheme, and according to the level of stringency of their scheme regarding animal welfare. For instance, farmers in the most stringent schemes define animal welfare as providing natural living conditions for the animals, whereas for farmers in no schemes, or in more intensive schemes, animal welfare is above all an animal in good health, for which one must provide correct housing and a balanced and sufficient diet. Animal welfare is almost always a part of more global quality schemes including environmental and high flavour quality aspects.Originality/valueThe paper provides insights into the different definitions of good animal welfare by French pig farmers, as well as their attitudes towards public regulations and different types of private schemes. This is interesting from a scientific point of view and to fuel the debate between a high level of regulation for all farmers, a market segmentation based on welfare specification, or a market segmentation in which animal welfare is one aspect of the specifications.
[eng] Small, Successful German Industries . The existence of a rich fabric of small and medium-sized industrial firms has often been put forward as being essential to the buoyancy and flexibility of the German economy. Such a statement requires some justification. Germany's industry is actually essentially an industry of large companies, especially as regards its strengths such as base chemicals and mechanical engineering. Yet the smallest of the small and medium-sized industrial firms (20 to 49 employees) are more productive than their French counterparts and their margins are higher than those of the large German firms. [ger] Die Leistungsfâhigkeit der kleinen mittelstândischen Industrieunternehmen in Deutschland . Das Vorhandensein eines dichten Netzes von kleinen und mittleren Industrieunternehmen ist des ôfteren als wichtigster Grund fur die Dynamik und Flexibilitât der deutschen Wirtschaft angefûhrt worden. Dièse Behauptung bedarf allerdings einer Nuancierung; denn bei der deutschen Industrie handelt es sich vor allem um eine Industrie von GroBunternehmen, insbesondere was . ihre Stârken, wie die Herstellung chemischer Grundstoffe und den Maschinenbau anbetrifft. Die kleinsten mittel stândischen Industriebetriebe mit 20 bis 49 Beschàftigten sind jedoch produktiver als die entsprechenden franzô sischen Unternehmen und weisen hôhere Gewinnmargen als die groBen deutschen Unternehmen auf. [fre] Des petites PMI allemandes performantes . L'existence d'un riche tissu de petites et moyennes prises industrielles a souvent été avancée comme un facteur primordial du dynamisme et de la souplesse de l'économie allemande. Cette affirmation doit être nuancée. En effet, l'industrie germanique est avant tout une in- . dustrie de grandes entreprises, en particulier sur ses . points forts comme la chimie de base ou la construction mécanique. Cependant, les plus petites des PMI (entre 20 et 49 salariés) sont plus productives que leurs homologues françaises et leurs taux de marge sont supérieurs à ceux des grandes firmes allemandes. [spa] Unas pequenas PYMEs alemanas dinâmicas . Se ha afirmado muy a menudo que la existencia de una red de PYMEs favorecîa con creces el dinamismo y la flexibilidad de la economfa alemana. Ahora bien cabe matizar dicha aseveraciôn ya que la industria tudesca es ante todo una industria de grandes empresas, en especial en cuanto a sus mejores bazas, como lo son la industria qufmica bâsica o el sector de construcciôn mecânica. . Sin embargo, las menores de las PYMEs (entre unos 20 y 49 asalariados) son mâs productivas que sus correspondientes francesas, sacando mârgenes superiores a los de las grandes firmas alemanas.
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