Welfare assessment of dairy cows housed in a tie-stall system

Welfare assessment methods and techniques developed as a result of great interest of scientific and consumer populations regarding the welfare of animals housed in farms. In view of the fact that welfare by definition includes both physical and mental health, the welfare quality assessment includes...

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Main Authors: Marija Vučemilo, Kristina Matković, Igor Štoković, Saša Kovačević, Marijan Benić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Croatian Dairy Union 2012-03-01
Series:Mljekarstvo
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=116557
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author Marija Vučemilo
Kristina Matković
Igor Štoković
Saša Kovačević
Marijan Benić
author_facet Marija Vučemilo
Kristina Matković
Igor Štoković
Saša Kovačević
Marijan Benić
author_sort Marija Vučemilo
collection DOAJ
description Welfare assessment methods and techniques developed as a result of great interest of scientific and consumer populations regarding the welfare of animals housed in farms. In view of the fact that welfare by definition includes both physical and mental health, the welfare quality assessment includes an extensive number of measures. Welfare assessment was performed in two stables in which cows are kept in tie-stall by using the specific method described in the Welfare Quality® Assessment Protocol for Cattle. The measures included body condition score, qualitative behaviour assessment and body hygiene. The welfare assessment confirmed the importance of quality housing for ensuring better performance from animals, thus also affecting their health and productivity. It also pointed out the necessity of freeing animals by providing them with the possibility of free movement, whereat they can exhibit their physiological behaviour. It is definitely important to continue research, expand the number of researched measures in order to confirm the most useful indicators for welfare assessment and to identify the factors that within the animals’ physical and social environment affect the increase of their welfare.
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spelling doaj.art-9f79571dbeb843efa8118db1bfe5c9bd2022-12-22T00:33:44ZengCroatian Dairy UnionMljekarstvo0026-704X1846-40252012-03-016216267Welfare assessment of dairy cows housed in a tie-stall systemMarija VučemiloKristina MatkovićIgor ŠtokovićSaša KovačevićMarijan BenićWelfare assessment methods and techniques developed as a result of great interest of scientific and consumer populations regarding the welfare of animals housed in farms. In view of the fact that welfare by definition includes both physical and mental health, the welfare quality assessment includes an extensive number of measures. Welfare assessment was performed in two stables in which cows are kept in tie-stall by using the specific method described in the Welfare Quality® Assessment Protocol for Cattle. The measures included body condition score, qualitative behaviour assessment and body hygiene. The welfare assessment confirmed the importance of quality housing for ensuring better performance from animals, thus also affecting their health and productivity. It also pointed out the necessity of freeing animals by providing them with the possibility of free movement, whereat they can exhibit their physiological behaviour. It is definitely important to continue research, expand the number of researched measures in order to confirm the most useful indicators for welfare assessment and to identify the factors that within the animals’ physical and social environment affect the increase of their welfare.http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=116557body condition scorequalitative behaviour assessmentbody hygieneliving quality
spellingShingle Marija Vučemilo
Kristina Matković
Igor Štoković
Saša Kovačević
Marijan Benić
Welfare assessment of dairy cows housed in a tie-stall system
Mljekarstvo
body condition score
qualitative behaviour assessment
body hygiene
living quality
title Welfare assessment of dairy cows housed in a tie-stall system
title_full Welfare assessment of dairy cows housed in a tie-stall system
title_fullStr Welfare assessment of dairy cows housed in a tie-stall system
title_full_unstemmed Welfare assessment of dairy cows housed in a tie-stall system
title_short Welfare assessment of dairy cows housed in a tie-stall system
title_sort welfare assessment of dairy cows housed in a tie stall system
topic body condition score
qualitative behaviour assessment
body hygiene
living quality
url http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=116557
work_keys_str_mv AT marijavucemilo welfareassessmentofdairycowshousedinatiestallsystem
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AT igorstokovic welfareassessmentofdairycowshousedinatiestallsystem
AT sasakovacevic welfareassessmentofdairycowshousedinatiestallsystem
AT marijanbenic welfareassessmentofdairycowshousedinatiestallsystem