Animal Welfare in Colombian Poultry Industry: Exploring Veterinarians' Perceptions, Attitudes, Knowledge, Barriers, and Professional Profiles.

Animal welfare (AW) in Colombian commercial poultry farming represents a growing challenge in which veterinarians and animal scientists play a strategic role as agents of technical transfer between the regulatory framework and production practices. This study aimed to characterize the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding AW; identify the main barriers, limitations, and opportunities for improvement perceived by professionals involved in Colombian commercial poultry farming; and construct professional profiles that synthesize the heterogeneity of these dimensions. A quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured online survey administered to 106 professionals. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis using Ward's method. The results revealed predominantly favorable attitudes toward AW and a strong recognition of its productive implications, although gaps were found in the conceptual understanding of the construct and a lack of awareness of specific regulatory aspects. The main perceived barriers were producers' lack of economic motivation, resistance to change, and beliefs about decreased productivity. Four statistically distinct professional profiles were identified: technical welfare leaders (25.5%), convinced by structural barriers (34.9%), professionals with relational barriers (15.1%), and results-oriented pragmatists (24.5%). The similarity in knowledge, attitude, and perception scores among profiles indicates that professional heterogeneity is primarily determined by the perception of barriers and opportunities, rather than by the level of knowledge. These findings suggest relevant areas for further investigation and may help inform the development of future intervention strategies for the implementation of AW standards in the Colombian poultry sector.