Introduction
This workshop forms part of a research programme investigating methods to reduce tail biting in pigs, TailBiteAdvice: An ICT-based real-time advisory tool to minimise tail biting in fattening pigs. The project is funded by Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) project no: 2020EN505, and is aligned with the EU funded ICT-Agri-Food network (ERA-NET Cofund). It involves researchers from Ireland, Denmark and Belgium aiming to investigate and improve health and welfare in commercially farmed pigs. We believe your experience, knowledge and perspectives would be highly valuable to the project team.
Why is this study being done?
The workshop is being carried out as we would like to know more about the opinions and thoughts of actors in the pig industry in Ireland with regard to tail biting and docking in pigs, and methods to address this issue.
What will happen if I take part in this study?
The workshop will consist of an initial session of presentations by representatives from DAFM, AHI, Teagasc, and from Denmark and Belgium, all of who work in the area of pig welfare. Following this, participants will be broken into smaller break-out groups on the basis of profession (e.g. pig producer, private veterinary practitioner etc.) and each group will be set a number of questions to discuss. A recording will be made of the workshop and break-out rooms, and later transcribed and anonymised. Because the break-out rooms will be split by profession, we will not need to know the individual identity of anyone within each room. All information gathered from you will be treated as confidential by the researchers, and records of this interview will be kept securely. No personal identifiable information will be used in any reports arising out of this research. The workshop, including break-out rooms, will be recorded to facilitate analysis of the data once it has concluded, as the researchers will not be able to personally attend all rooms.
How long will the workshop last?
Approximately 2 hours
What if I change my mind?
You can decide to stop participating at any time. If you decide to take part in this study, you may change your mind at any time. Tell the project researcher right away if you decide not to take part (you can do this via email which will be monitored).
What risks can I expect from being in the study?
No quotes or other results arising from your participation in this study will be included in any reports, even anonymously, without your agreement. The information obtained will only be used by the project researchers and will be held securely.
Are there benefits to taking part in the study?
A significant benefit will be that you will be informed of the most up to date information available regarding the activities and findings of the Irish Department of Agriculture, Teagasc, and Animal Health Ireland, with regard to activities associated with efforts to reduce the need to tail dock in pigs. You will also get to discuss issues around the subject of how to reduce the need to tail dock with your peers in the pig industry. The information that you provide will also help researchers and policy-makers understand some of the barriers and challenges associated with stopping tail docking, from the perspective of industry stakeholders.
Giving consent to participate in the study
Participation in this study is voluntary. You have the right to decline to participate in the study, or to withdraw from it at any point without penalty. If you do not agree to quotes or other results arising from your participation in the study being included, even anonymously, in any reports about the study, please let the researcher know.
What if I have more questions?
Please feel free to ask the researcher any further questions that you might have in relation to this workshop.
Researcher Contact
Keelin.odriscoll@teagasc.ie Tel: 086 8930716
If you are happy to proceed, please read and tick through the boxes below, and we will register you for the workshop.
