This study provides a quantification of the similarities and differences between aspects relating to farm animal welfare as valued by farmers and citizens and tries to explain the findings based on differences in values, interests, knowledge, norms and convictions, constituting the frame of reference of the perception towards farm animal welfare. The interpretation of the complex and multi-dimensional concept of farm animal welfare has proven to be quite compatible from a citizen and farmer perspective. The main differences are found in the importance attached to animals’ ability to engage in natural behaviour and in aspects which require some basic understanding about production conditions and the way livestock is reared. Furthermore, citizens evaluated the current state of farm animal welfare rather negative with mean evaluative belief scores for almost all aspects below the mid-point of the scale, while a much more positive image was present among farmers. Discordance between citizen and farmer perception appeared to be the highest for aspects related to natural behaviour, pain, stress and availability of space.

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