Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of facility comfort level on animal-based welfare indicators as well as on productive and reproductive parameters of 187 dairy farms in the northwest of Spain. Fifty-eight facility-based parameters, which included both housing facilities and management parameters, were evaluated in each farm and used to classify the 187 farms in 5 groups (from 1: top farms to 5: worst farms). Animal-based welfare indicators and reproductive and productive parameters were compared among farm groups. Lameness score significantly differed (p < .005) in top farms (67% of cows having normal gait) versus groups 4 (55%) and 5 (53%). The proportion of cows with dirty lower legs and udder was lower (p < .05) in top farms (80% and 31%, respectively) than in groups 4 (92% and 51%) and 5 (95% and 56%). Other animal-based indicators were not different among farm groups. Heat detection rate was higher (p < .001) in top farms (56.5%) versus groups 4 (51%) and 5 (47%), and milk production/cow/day was also significantly higher (p < .001) in top farms (34.4 L) versus groups 3 (31.2 L), 4 (30.5 L) and 5 (27.4 L). Other reproductive or productive parameters were not different among farm groups. Facility-based measures were compared only between the top and worst farms. In top farms, most facility-based parameters met the welfare-related objectives, whereas in the worst farms only a few facility-based parameters met the welfare objectives. Highlights Fifty-eight facility-based parameters, including housing measures and some management practices, were evaluated and scored in 187 dairy farms. Top-performing farms (i.e. with the best scores) had lower incidence of lameness and of cows with dirty legs and udder than poor-performing farms. Top-performing farms had higher rates of heat detection and higher milk production/cow/day than poor-performing farms.
Highlights
Animal welfare has become a topic of great interest to EU citizens, and legislation concerning animal welfare in modern livestock production is frequently revised
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of facility comfort level on animal-based welfare indicators as well as on productive and reproductive parameters of 187 dairy farms in the northwest of Spain
In Europe, public opinion perceives that, compared with laying hens or pigs, dairy cows are reared in fairly good welfare conditions (European Commission 2005)
Summary
Animal welfare has become a topic of great interest to EU citizens, and legislation concerning animal welfare in modern livestock production is frequently revised. Because the public opinion may be influential in determining legislative decisions on animal welfare standards, this may be the reason for the lack of specific regulations concerning animal welfare in dairy farms. Among all factors influencing animal welfare, perhaps the most evident is the quality and comfort ability of facilities, which may widely differ among the dairy farms in a region or a country. Inadequate animal welfare conditions are known to cause chronic stress and numerous health issues in dairy farms (Abeni and Bertoni 2009), but objective and systematic assessment of animal welfare aspects, including comfort ability of facilities, is not routinely
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