Application of the ClassyFarm checklist as measurement tool to evaluate the welfare of cattle kept in tie-stalls in Aosta valley

Abstract

The growing sensitivity of consumers about animal welfare and the awareness of its impact on food security and safety recently influenced international policies and law scenario. To response to these needs, in 2018, the Italian Ministry of Health commissioned the development of a system named ClassyFarm able to categorizes the level of risk arising from farm animal welfare. The experts involved in the project provided specific checklists to analyze different animal species and housing system. The developed welfare measurement protocols consist of both resource-based and animal-based measures and are divided into three areas: (Area A) “Farm management and staff training”, Area B) “Housing and equipment”, (Area C) “Animal-based measures”. The aim of this study was to measure welfare conditions in cattle herds reared in the Aosta Valley through the ClassyFarm checklist for tie-stall dairy cattle. The scores (%) for each area of assessment were divided into three classes (insufficient, acceptable, and optimal) while the total Animal Welfare Score (AWS), obtained by summing the scores of the 3 areas, was divided into five classes. The total AWS showed the majority of the farm included in good to optimal result.