Factors affecting French rabbit farmers’ adoption of pro-welfare innovations

Consumers are increasingly animal welfare-conscious and critical of indoor caged housing systems such as those used in rabbit farming, Europe has committed to legislate a ban on farming. Research evidenced several technical economic drivers system change or lock-in the livestock sector. Here we study determinants, motivations and/or resistance adoption pro-welfare practices among French farmers. First, held 31 exploratory interviews with farmers then performed thematic analysis interview transcripts. We assessed farmers’ receptivity change, using questionnaires containing 83 variables addressing technico-economic characterisation farms, professional situations, personal life Receptivity was evaluated through two synthetic summarising pro-change (changes already made on-farm housing, management, feeding, etc.) interest innovation (receptiveness novelty relationship innovation) graded 3-point scale (low, moderate, high). analysed effects sociodemographic (social attributes, internal external motivations) Chi-square tests Cramer’s V. collected 78 full questionnaires, i.e. covering 10% population Results showed link between (P<0.001). Sociodemographic (33%, 21/63; P<0.05) rather than (5%, 1/19; were linked change. Pro-change more influenced by capturing (6/16, economic, technical, work facilitation, materialise farmer’s interests) (3/21, societal incentives, family group social environment). The weight suggests that transition support should be thought out terms farmer attributes.