One welfare: assessing the effects of drought and the COVID-19 Pandemic on farmers’ well-being and their perception of goats’ welfare

Abstract

Considering the interconnections between human well-being, animal welfare, and the environment, this study aimed to investigate the impacts of drought and the COVID-19 pandemic on small-scale goat farmers’ well-being and their perception of goats’ welfare following the One Welfare framework. Using a telephone survey, close-ended questions, and Likert scales, we assessed the impacts of drought and the COVID-19 pandemic on human well-being and animal welfare in the Coquimbo region of Chile. The DASS-21 questionnaire was used to evaluate farmers’ mental health. Goat farmers perceived the scarcity of water and food for animals as factors that negatively affected animal productivity and welfare and caused an increase in farmers’ stress levels. Farmers who had not been visited by a veterinarian showed higher levels of stress than those who received one visit during the year (M = 10 vs. 2, p = 0.025). Additionally, farmers who perceived better welfare of their animals showed lower levels of depression (rs = −0.17, p = 0.048), anxiety (rs = −0.21, p = 0.016), and stress (rs = −0.33, p < 0.001). These findings emphasize the importance of addressing farmers’ mental health and veterinary support as crucial aspects to ensure both goat welfare and farm productivity.