Styles of Pig Farming and Family Labour in the Netherlands

Abstract

In a survey conducted in 1998 of pig production farmers in the east of The Netherlands, labour division amongst family members appeared to depend on style of farming. The role of the men on the farm is connected to the attitude to hired labour: the more hired labour, the more the men become farm managers. The role of women on the farm is primarily connected to the age of their children. Women with young children perform farm activities that can be more easily combined with childcare. The role of women who are less occupied with young children varies amongst styles of farming. At the time of succession, it is often the women who initiate extra farm activities, like home procession and sales of farm products, involvement with tourism, et cetera. In the research five styles of farming were defined and given metaphoric names: entrepreneur, craftsman, steward, stockman, and shifter. Every style of farming showed a specific coherence in the organisation of the farm work.