The job of veterinarians is often described as morally challenging. This online survey (n = 123) investigated how farm veterinarians in Germany perceive these challenges. Most participants described their job in accordance with the literature: as a profession that regularly has to deal with morally difficult decisions. The majority assumed that their moral challenges were greater than the ones of small animal practitioners. The results indicate that the typical moral challenges are (a) situations in which the farm veterinarians are convinced to know what is morally right, however, specific external obstacles prevent them from implementing their convictions. Therefore, the central moral problem from the veterinarians’ point of view can be described with the following words: “I would like to, but I can’t.” Other ideal types of moral challenges like (b) open ethical questions, (c) ethical dilemmas or (d) “duty vs. inclination” conflicts play a less prominent role. With regard to dealing with these challenges, the study shows that farm veterinarians are looking for exchange, for example with colleagues. Most participants see the current social debate about livestock farming as something that stresses them, arguing that their university’s curriculum did not adequately prepare them to participate in these controversies.

中文翻译：

---

我愿意，但我不能。关于德国农场兽医道德挑战的在线调查

兽医的工作通常被描述为在道德上具有挑战性。这项在线调查 (n = 123) 调查了德国的农场兽医如何看待这些挑战。大多数参与者根据文献描述他们的工作：作为一个经常需要处理道德上困难决定的职业。大多数人认为他们的道德挑战比小动物从业者的挑战更大。结果表明，典型的道德挑战是 (a) 农场兽医被说服知道什么是道德正确的情况，然而，特定的外部障碍阻止他们实施他们的信念。因此，从兽医的角度来看，核心道德问题可以用以下的话来描述：“我愿意，但我不能。” 其他理想类型的道德挑战，如 (b) 开放的伦理问题、(c) 伦理困境或 (d) “职责与倾向”冲突，其作用不那么突出。关于应对这些挑战，研究表明农场兽医正在寻求交流，例如与同事交流。大多数参与者认为当前关于畜牧业的社会争论给他们带来了压力，认为他们大学的课程没有为他们参与这些争论做好充分准备。