Assessment of dairy cows comfort in Algerian farms by the Welfare Quality® Protocol
The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and degree of discomfort in dairy cows and the risk factors associated by taking into account six animal welfare indicators included in the Welfare Quality® Protocol (WQ®): lying time, lying outside lying area, collision and cleanliness ass...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (Eduem)
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Acta Scientiarum: Animal Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciAnimSci/article/view/61533 |
| _version_ | 1797741599180980224 |
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| author | Amel Benatallah Sofiane Boudjellaba Wahiba Zenad Amel Milla Faiçal Ghozlane Michel Marie |
| author_facet | Amel Benatallah Sofiane Boudjellaba Wahiba Zenad Amel Milla Faiçal Ghozlane Michel Marie |
| author_sort | Amel Benatallah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and degree of discomfort in dairy cows and the risk factors associated by taking into account six animal welfare indicators included in the Welfare Quality® Protocol (WQ®): lying time, lying outside lying area, collision and cleanliness assessed on three body areas: udder, hindquarters and hind limbs. These indicators were carried out on 1,200 dairy cows belonging to 100 dairy farms in the province of Algiers, which 53% were kept in permanent tie stalls and 47% in partial tie stalls. Observation results showed a low average overall score of comfort (40.8 ± 10.62). This was mainly related to a long lying time (5.9s ± 0.89) of which 41.0% of the farms surveyed exceeded the alert threshold (>6.3s) and 39.0% the alarm threshold (>5.2s), a very high degree of dirtiness in udder (62.6%±21.9), hind quarters (60.6%±21.5) and hind limbs (60.6±21.4). As a result, the majority of farms exceeded the alert thresholds: 100.0% (udder), 86.0% (hindquarters) and 63.0% (hind limbs). Highly significant correlations were observed between the different aspects of comfort assessed (p < 0.0001). To reconcile dairy cows’ welfare and productivity, it is essential to improve their comfort.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:29:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20b2cedc83124382ab1526a89fca5041 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1806-2636 1807-8672 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:29:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (Eduem) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Scientiarum: Animal Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-20b2cedc83124382ab1526a89fca50412023-08-17T17:53:09ZengEditora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (Eduem)Acta Scientiarum: Animal Sciences1806-26361807-86722023-08-0145110.4025/actascianimsci.v45i1.61533Assessment of dairy cows comfort in Algerian farms by the Welfare Quality® ProtocolAmel Benatallah0Sofiane Boudjellaba1Wahiba Zenad2Amel Milla3Faiçal Ghozlane 4Michel Marie5Higher National Veterinary SchoolHigher National Veterinary School Higher National Veterinary SchoolHigher National Institute of AgronomyNational Institute of Agronomic ResearchNational Institute of Agronomic Research The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and degree of discomfort in dairy cows and the risk factors associated by taking into account six animal welfare indicators included in the Welfare Quality® Protocol (WQ®): lying time, lying outside lying area, collision and cleanliness assessed on three body areas: udder, hindquarters and hind limbs. These indicators were carried out on 1,200 dairy cows belonging to 100 dairy farms in the province of Algiers, which 53% were kept in permanent tie stalls and 47% in partial tie stalls. Observation results showed a low average overall score of comfort (40.8 ± 10.62). This was mainly related to a long lying time (5.9s ± 0.89) of which 41.0% of the farms surveyed exceeded the alert threshold (>6.3s) and 39.0% the alarm threshold (>5.2s), a very high degree of dirtiness in udder (62.6%±21.9), hind quarters (60.6%±21.5) and hind limbs (60.6±21.4). As a result, the majority of farms exceeded the alert thresholds: 100.0% (udder), 86.0% (hindquarters) and 63.0% (hind limbs). Highly significant correlations were observed between the different aspects of comfort assessed (p < 0.0001). To reconcile dairy cows’ welfare and productivity, it is essential to improve their comfort. https://periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciAnimSci/article/view/61533Lying time; lying outside lying area; collision; cleanliness; score; correlation. |
| spellingShingle | Amel Benatallah Sofiane Boudjellaba Wahiba Zenad Amel Milla Faiçal Ghozlane Michel Marie Assessment of dairy cows comfort in Algerian farms by the Welfare Quality® Protocol Acta Scientiarum: Animal Sciences Lying time; lying outside lying area; collision; cleanliness; score; correlation. |
| title | Assessment of dairy cows comfort in Algerian farms by the Welfare Quality® Protocol |
| title_full | Assessment of dairy cows comfort in Algerian farms by the Welfare Quality® Protocol |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of dairy cows comfort in Algerian farms by the Welfare Quality® Protocol |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of dairy cows comfort in Algerian farms by the Welfare Quality® Protocol |
| title_short | Assessment of dairy cows comfort in Algerian farms by the Welfare Quality® Protocol |
| title_sort | assessment of dairy cows comfort in algerian farms by the welfare quality r protocol |
| topic | Lying time; lying outside lying area; collision; cleanliness; score; correlation. |
| url | https://periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciAnimSci/article/view/61533 |
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