National Test Programme - testing actions for sustainable farming phase one: survey report

Survey Analysis:

•  The survey results have demonstrated that the larger the business the more likely the business is to undertake various action plans and assessments.
•  Some businesses do not undertake the various management actions because they do not know enough about the process.
•  Respondents are conscious of the time and cost required to undertake these practices believing these actions will have a negative impact on business production. They cannot see the benefit in implementing these actions as part of the running of their business.
•  Many businesses have noted they do not have a breeding or animal health and welfare plan because their enterprise is too small, they rely on body condition scoring of animals appropriate for the time of year or examining their livestock performance as to whether the forage is of good quality.
•  Many respondents commented that unless there was a good reason for each action, a better understanding and a benefit to the business they would continue to resist undertaking these actions.