Non-Compliance and Follow-Up in Swedish Official and Private Animal Welfare Control of Dairy Cows
Farmers often have to comply with several sets of animal welfare regulations, since private standards have been developed in addition to legislation. Using an epidemiological approach, we analysed protocols from animal welfare inspections carried out in Swedish dairy herds by the County Administrati...
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MDPI AG
2018-05-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/8/5/72 |
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| author | Frida Lundmark Hedman Jan Hultgren Helena Röcklinsberg Birgitta Wahlberg Charlotte Berg |
| author_facet | Frida Lundmark Hedman Jan Hultgren Helena Röcklinsberg Birgitta Wahlberg Charlotte Berg |
| author_sort | Frida Lundmark Hedman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Farmers often have to comply with several sets of animal welfare regulations, since private standards have been developed in addition to legislation. Using an epidemiological approach, we analysed protocols from animal welfare inspections carried out in Swedish dairy herds by the County Administrative Board (CAB; official control of legislation) and by the dairy company Arla Foods (private control of Arlagården standard) during 2010–2013 in the county of Västra Götaland. CAB and Arla inspections were not carried out simultaneously. We aimed to identify common non-compliances, quantify risk factors of non-compliance, and investigate if non-compliances were based on animal-, resource-, or management-based requirements, as well as determining the time period allowed for achieving compliance. Non-compliance was found in 58% of CAB cases, and 51% of Arla cases (each case comprising a sequence of one or several inspections). Dirty dairy cattle was one of the most frequent non-compliances in both control systems. However, the differences in control results were large, suggesting a difference in focus between the two systems. Tie-stall housing and winter season (Dec–Feb) were common risk factors for non-compliance, and overall organic farms had a lower predicted number of non-compliances compared to conventional farms. The presence of both similarities and differences between the systems underlines the need for transparency, predictability, and clarity of inspections. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:48:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4008d866e95c46ed9e881db56ab75acd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:48:02Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj.art-4008d866e95c46ed9e881db56ab75acd2022-12-21T17:58:02ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152018-05-01857210.3390/ani8050072ani8050072Non-Compliance and Follow-Up in Swedish Official and Private Animal Welfare Control of Dairy CowsFrida Lundmark Hedman0Jan Hultgren1Helena Röcklinsberg2Birgitta Wahlberg3Charlotte Berg4Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 234, SE-53223 Skara, SwedenDepartment of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 234, SE-53223 Skara, SwedenDepartment of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7068, SE-75007 Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Law, Åbo Akademi University, Gezeliusgatan 2, 20500 Åbo, FinlandDepartment of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 234, SE-53223 Skara, SwedenFarmers often have to comply with several sets of animal welfare regulations, since private standards have been developed in addition to legislation. Using an epidemiological approach, we analysed protocols from animal welfare inspections carried out in Swedish dairy herds by the County Administrative Board (CAB; official control of legislation) and by the dairy company Arla Foods (private control of Arlagården standard) during 2010–2013 in the county of Västra Götaland. CAB and Arla inspections were not carried out simultaneously. We aimed to identify common non-compliances, quantify risk factors of non-compliance, and investigate if non-compliances were based on animal-, resource-, or management-based requirements, as well as determining the time period allowed for achieving compliance. Non-compliance was found in 58% of CAB cases, and 51% of Arla cases (each case comprising a sequence of one or several inspections). Dirty dairy cattle was one of the most frequent non-compliances in both control systems. However, the differences in control results were large, suggesting a difference in focus between the two systems. Tie-stall housing and winter season (Dec–Feb) were common risk factors for non-compliance, and overall organic farms had a lower predicted number of non-compliances compared to conventional farms. The presence of both similarities and differences between the systems underlines the need for transparency, predictability, and clarity of inspections.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/8/5/72animal welfareauditcompliancedairy cowpolicy makingquality assurance scheme |
| spellingShingle | Frida Lundmark Hedman Jan Hultgren Helena Röcklinsberg Birgitta Wahlberg Charlotte Berg Non-Compliance and Follow-Up in Swedish Official and Private Animal Welfare Control of Dairy Cows Animals animal welfare audit compliance dairy cow policy making quality assurance scheme |
| title | Non-Compliance and Follow-Up in Swedish Official and Private Animal Welfare Control of Dairy Cows |
| title_full | Non-Compliance and Follow-Up in Swedish Official and Private Animal Welfare Control of Dairy Cows |
| title_fullStr | Non-Compliance and Follow-Up in Swedish Official and Private Animal Welfare Control of Dairy Cows |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-Compliance and Follow-Up in Swedish Official and Private Animal Welfare Control of Dairy Cows |
| title_short | Non-Compliance and Follow-Up in Swedish Official and Private Animal Welfare Control of Dairy Cows |
| title_sort | non compliance and follow up in swedish official and private animal welfare control of dairy cows |
| topic | animal welfare audit compliance dairy cow policy making quality assurance scheme |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/8/5/72 |
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