以奧地利使用之ANI 35 L方法評估台灣乳牛動物福利及其與疾病的關係

Abstract

Resent years, there are many researches on dairy cows in concept of disease, but there are little in which concept of animal welfare in Taiwan. 53 dairy farms in Taiwan were assessed in this study with ANI 35 L (TGI 35 L), and we explore the correlation between animal welfare and mastitis prevalence, lameness prevalence, and milk yield. Of the 53 farms, 32.1% were achieved the range of “very suitable with respect to welfare”. Dairy farms with outdoor yards have higher ANI score but less milk yield than which without straw yards (p<0.05). Dairy farms with straw yards have higher ANI score than with concrete and rubber mats (p< 0.05). Also, the ANI score of farms in cubicle system are higher than in concrete (p< 0.05). Mastitis prevalence in herd size ranged from 200-299 was less than ranged from 100-199 (p< 0.05), and the ANI score in herd size ranged above 300 was higher than ranged from 100-199 (p< 0.05). A negative correlation was found between mastitis prevalence and the score of ANI criteria “lying area slipperiness”. Lameness prevalence correlated negatively with space allowance, and a trend also seen in the relationships between the ANI score in the assessment section “Social interaction” and lameness prevalence. Positive correlations were found between milk yield and the score of ANI criteria “technical condition of equipment” and the ANI score in the assessment section “Stockmanship”. There was a trend toward a relationship between milk yield and ANI criteria “animal health” and between milk yield and ANI criteria “Lying down, lying & rising”. This study revealed the animal welfare of dairy cows in Taiwan and connections between the results of animal welfare assessment by ANI 35 L and disease and milk yield.