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Linstädt J, Thöne-Reineke C, Merle R. Animal-based welfare indicators for dairy cows and their validity and practicality: a systematic review of the existing literature. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1429097. [PMID: 39055860 PMCID: PMC11271709 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1429097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal welfare is of increasing importance, with consumers preferring animal products made with ethical practices due to growing awareness. This shift highlights the need for reliable methods to evaluate welfare. This systematic review aims to assess the validity of current animal-based welfare indicators for dairy cows to aid farmers and agricultural professionals in evaluating and improving welfare amidst the lack of a clear legislative definition. The literature search spanned five databases: CAB Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Livivo, covering publications in English and German from 2011 to 2021. Specific search terms were employed, and abstracts were screened for relevance. Publications were categorized based on exclusion criteria, with a final verification process conducted by three independent scientists. Research highlights correlations between welfare measures, farm characteristics and innovative indicators like hair cortisol concentration. Farming systems and housing methods significantly affect welfare, with pasture-based systems generally resulting in reduced lameness and improved behavior. Proper housing design and management practices are important, as they influence indicators like lameness and cleanliness. Heart rate variability and heart rate monitoring provide insights into dairy cow stress levels during milking and other stressors, making them valuable for welfare assessment. Biomarker research emphasizes the need to balance productivity and health in breeding strategies, as high milk production alone does not indicate good welfare. Behavioral studies and the human-animal relationship are key to understanding welfare. Precision Livestock Farming offers real-time assessment capabilities, although validation is needed. Stress physiology is complex, and while cortisol measurement methods are promising, further research is necessary. Assessment tools like the Animal Needs Index and routine herd data analysis are valuable for identifying welfare concerns. Key findings highlight the WQ® protocol's effectiveness and versatility, the challenge of its time demands, and the DCF protocol's promise for more practical and efficient welfare assessments. Commercial animal welfare audits should prioritize easily observable indicators and herd records due to logistical constraints in measuring biomarkers or heart rate variability. This focus on easily accessible indicators, such as body condition score, lameness, claw health, cleanliness, and somatic cell count allows effective welfare assessments, enabling prompt action to enhance wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Linstädt
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christa Thöne-Reineke
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roswitha Merle
- Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Poulopoulou I, Zanon T, Alrhmoun M, Katzenberger K, Holighaus L, Gauly M. Development of a benchmarking tool to assess the welfare of dairy cattle on small-scale farms. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:6464-6475. [PMID: 37500430 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Public concern about the welfare of farm animals and the livestock industry's awareness of the need to improve animal welfare have led to the implementation of new tools designed to meet this objective. Especially in the case of small-scale farms in marginalized areas, the lack of available data specifically for assessing welfare led to the present study. Its aim was to use animal- and resource-based indicators that are representative of small-scale farms, to establish an index and develop a benchmarking tool that can be used to dynamically evaluate the welfare of cattle on farms with different husbandry systems and provide farmers, veterinarians, extension officers, and stakeholders with reliable information that can be used as a decision support tool. For this reason, 1,891 cows from 204 herds housed in freestall (n = 111) and tiestall (n = 93) husbandry systems in South Tyrol (Northern Italy) were evaluated. The results showed that 17.6% of herds (36 farms) had an average score below 60 (out of 100), which means that immediate intervention should be adopted to improve welfare. South Tyrolean dairy farms performed well in terms of lameness, skin alterations, avoidance behavior, number and space of lying areas, and dystocia occurrence scores, whereas water supply, cow cleanliness status, claw conformation, and getting-up behavior offered significant potential for improvement. Significant differences were observed between housing systems scoring less than 60 out of 100 points in 9.9% (n = 11) and 26.9%, (n = 25), of the herds kept in freestalls and tiestalls, respectively. A slight difference was found when comparing the percentage of herds with high scores, which corresponded to 30.6% (n = 34) of herds housed in freestalls and 22.6% (n = 21) of herds housed in tiestall housing systems. In addition, it was shown that animals reared on farms with tiestalls more often had problems with body condition, cleanliness, and skin alterations. All individual welfare indicators in the top 25% of herds had scores above 80, indicating that this may be an attainable target for freestall and tiestall herds, respectively, to promote good dairy cow welfare. The overall aim must be to adopt measures to increase the scores on all farms closer to this level.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Poulopoulou
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, 39100, Bolzano, Italy.
| | - T Zanon
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, 39100, Bolzano, Italy
| | - M Alrhmoun
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, 39100, Bolzano, Italy
| | - K Katzenberger
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, 39100, Bolzano, Italy
| | - L Holighaus
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, 39100, Bolzano, Italy
| | - M Gauly
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, 39100, Bolzano, Italy
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Alrhmoun M, Zanon T, Poulopoulou I, Katzenberger K, Gauly M. Associated risk factors for skin alterations in dairy cattle kept on small scale mountain farms. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285394. [PMID: 37552684 PMCID: PMC10409271 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors for skin alterations at herd and cow level on dairy farms with different housing systems in South Tyrol (Northern Italy). A cross-sectional study was conducted on 204 farms (111 free stalls and 93 tie stalls) from March to October 2019 assessing the level of animal welfare using resource-based and animal-based indicators. A total number of 1,891 dairy cows were evaluated, of which 43.5% were reared in tie stalls and 56.5% in free stalls. A logistic regression model identified the herd and cow level risks factors for neck and leg skin alterations in the two different systems. There was a higher prevalence for skin lesions on the neck (Odd Ratio (OR) = 2.36) and hock (OR = 2.82) for tie stalls. Irrespective of the housing system the soft-based stall mattresses had a lower prevalence for knee and hock lesions of 0.48 and 0.54, respectively, compared to wood base stalls for both knee (OR = 2.19) and hock (OR = 2.47) consecutively. The prevalence of skin alterations on the knee (OR = 0.42) and hock (OR = 0.33) decreased by the presence of sawdust as bedding material. Similarly, straw (OR = 0.61) and lime-straw-water bedding (OR = 0.59) reduced the prevalence for skin alterations on the hock. Access to pasture reduced the prevalence of skin alterations on the neck (OR = 0.34), the knee (OR = 0.77), and on the hock (OR = 0.46) regardless of the housing system. In conclusion, the assessment of risk factors of different skin alterations in different housing systems can contribute to the improvement of overall animal welfare in traditional small scale mountain dairy systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mousaab Alrhmoun
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Thomas Zanon
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Ioanna Poulopoulou
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Katja Katzenberger
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Matthias Gauly
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy
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Abele GE, Zablotski Y, Feist M, Jensen KC, Stock A, Campe A, Merle R, Oehm AW. Prevalence of and factors associated with swellings of the ribs in tie stall housed dairy cows in Germany. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269726. [PMID: 35839225 PMCID: PMC9286234 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Swellings of the ribs result from severe injury and affected animals are subjected to considerable and prolonged pain and suffering. The knowledge on rib swellings in dairy cows has yet been very limited. Therefore, the present study aimed at determining the prevalence of rib swellings in tie stall housed dairy cows in Germany as well as at identifying associated factors. Mean animal-level prevalence of rib swellings for 2,134 cows was 7.54% with a mean of 7.00% on farm level (range 0.00% - 37.49%). Multivariable mixed logistic regression models including nested random effects were built and factors associated with swellings of the ribs were evaluated for 1,740 dairy cows on 96 farms in Germany. Out of the initial 22 predictors, 8 factors were selected for the final model. Managing dairy cows on a part-time basis (OR 0.49 [CI 0.25–0.98]) appeared to decrease the odds for rib swellings compared with full-time farming. Cattle breeds other than Simmental entailed lower odds for rib swellings (OR 0.29 [CI 0.14–0.59]). Lame cows (OR 2.59 [CI 1.71–3.93]) and cows with wounds and/or swellings of the hocks (OR 2.77 [CI 1.32–5.84]) had more than two times the odds for rib swellings compared with sound animals. The results of the present study can help raising awareness of rib swellings in dairy cows and contribute to the body of evidence on this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta E. Abele
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Yury Zablotski
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Melanie Feist
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - K. Charlotte Jensen
- Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Annegret Stock
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Clinic for Ruminants and Swine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Amely Campe
- Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface, University of Veterinary Medicine, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Roswitha Merle
- Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas W. Oehm
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
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Evaluating Alternatives to Locomotion Scoring for Detecting Lameness in Pasture-Based Dairy Cattle in New Zealand: In-Parlour Scoring. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12060703. [PMID: 35327100 PMCID: PMC8944533 DOI: 10.3390/ani12060703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Earlier detection followed by efficient treatment can reduce the impact of lameness. Currently, locomotion scoring (LS) is the most widely used method of early detection but has significant limitations in pasture-based cattle and is not commonly used routinely in New Zealand. Scoring in the milking parlour may be more achievable, so this study compared an in-parlour scoring (IPS) technique with LS in pasture-based dairy cows. For nine months on two dairy farms, whole herd LS (4-point 0−3 scale) was followed 24 h later by IPS, with cows being milked. Observed for shifting weight, abnormal weight distribution, swollen heel or hock joint, and overgrown hoof. Every third cow was scored. Sensitivity and specificity of individual IPS indicators and one or more, two or more or three positive indicators for detecting cows with locomotion scores ≥ 2 were calculated. Using a threshold of two or more positive indicators were optimal (sensitivity > 92% and specificity > 98%). Utilising the IPS indicators, a decision tree machine learning procedure classified cows with locomotion score class ≥2 with a true positive rate of 75% and a false positive rate of 0.2%. IPS has the potential to be an alternative to LS on pasture-based dairy farms.
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Effect of low and high concentrate supplementation on health and welfare indicators in different breeds in small-scale mountain dairy farms. J DAIRY RES 2021; 88:139-146. [PMID: 34105452 DOI: 10.1017/s0022029921000273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We investigated and compared the effects of low and high concentrate supplementation in terms of animal welfare, health and reproductive performance in two different dairy cow breeds on small-scale mountain farms. 64 South Tyrolean dairy farms were evaluated using an on-farm assessment for animal-based and resource-based welfare indicators, data from test day records, and a questionnaire for the farmer. Farms were divided into four groups: low input Tyrolean Grey (L-TG), low input Brown Swiss (L-BS), high input Tyrolean Grey (H-TG) and high input Brown Swiss (H-BS). Effects of intensity level, breed and their interaction were calculated and analyzed statistically. The predominant husbandry system across all groups was tie-stall. The average energy-corrected milk yield increased with increasing concentrate level, with L-TG showing the lowest and H-BS showing the highest milk yield. Age at first calving was lowest in H-BS when compared to all other systems, while numbers of lactations were higher in L-TG compared to H-BS. Feed efficiency (percentage of milk out of roughage) was significantly higher in L-TG and L-BS when compared to H-TG and H-BS. L-BS showed the poorest results for most of the welfare indicators such as lean cows, lesions and percentage of dirty animals. In conclusion, a higher concentrate level in diets does not lead automatically to lower animal welfare for dairy cows in alpine regions. Indeed, keeping high yielding breeds in extensive systems seems to be challenging. The dual-purpose breed TG showed some clear advantages in that calving interval was lower and the number of lactations greater.
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Bulk milk quality as affected by cattle breed composition of the herd in mountain area. ANNALS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2020-0067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the variation of gross composition, somatic cell count, urea content, and fatty acids (FA) composition of bulk milk from single-breed and multi-breed farms in alpine area, keeping either Brown Swiss (BS), Holstein Friesian (HF), Simmental (SI), or their combinations. Gross milk composition, urea content, and FA composition were predicted using mid-infrared spectroscopy. Observations were grouped in 7 combinations consisting of 3 singlebreed and 4 multi-breed types of herd. A mixed linear model was used for data analysis, accounting for the fixed effects of herd composition (7 combinations), month of sampling, year of sampling, and the interactions between herd composition and month of sampling, and between herd composition and year of sampling. Farm was included as random effect. Results highlighted that about two thirds of South Tyrolean farms were single-breed and herds with more than 20 lactating cows changed herd structure over time, switching from multi- to single-breed. Single-breed BS farms produced milk with greater fat, protein, casein, lactose, and FA content than single-breed HF and SI farms. Further, multi-breed herds including BS cows produced milk with greater fat, protein, casein, and polyunsaturated FA content than multi-breed HF+SI herds. Overall, single-breed SI farms produced milk with lower somatic cell count than other herd combinations. Despite the number of BS cows in South Tyrol has decreased in favor of SI in the last years, this breed is still the most interesting for alpine dairy farming to achieve optimal milk quality in both single- and multi-breed scenarios. The tendency to move to SI is mainly related to good milk performance of SI cows coupled with their robustness, high carcass value, high market value of calves, and adaptability to mountain farming system.
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Zanon T, De Monte E, Gauly M. Effects of cattle breed and production system on veterinary diagnoses and administrated veterinary medicine in alpine dairy farms. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2021.1953410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Zanon
- Facoltá di scienze e tecnologie, Libera Universitá di Bolzano, Bolzano Italy
| | - Erica De Monte
- Facoltá di scienze e tecnologie, Libera Universitá di Bolzano, Bolzano Italy
| | - Matthias Gauly
- Facoltá di scienze e tecnologie, Libera Universitá di Bolzano, Bolzano Italy
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Zanon T, König S, Gauly M. A comparison of animal-related figures in milk and meat production and economic revenues from milk and animal sales of five dairy cattle breeds reared in Alps region. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2020.1839361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Zanon
- Facoltà di Scienze e Tecnologie, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Sven König
- Institut für Tierzucht und Haustiergenetik, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Matthias Gauly
- Facoltà di Scienze e Tecnologie, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
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Katzenberger K, Rauch E, Erhard M, Reese S, Gauly M. Evaluating the need for an animal welfare assurance programme in South Tyrolean dairy farming. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2020.1823897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katja Katzenberger
- Facoltà di Scienze e Tecnologie, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Elke Rauch
- Tierärztliche Fakultät, Veterinärwissenschaftliches Department, Lehrstuhl für Tierschutz, Verhaltenskunde, Tierhygiene und Tierhaltung, LMU Munich, München, Germany
| | - Michael Erhard
- Tierärztliche Fakultät, Veterinärwissenschaftliches Department, Lehrstuhl für Tierschutz, Verhaltenskunde, Tierhygiene und Tierhaltung, LMU Munich, München, Germany
| | - Sven Reese
- Tierärztliche Fakultät, Veterinärwissenschaftliches Department, Lehrstuhl für Anatomie, Histologie und Embryologie, LMU Munich, München, Germany
| | - Matthias Gauly
- Facoltà di Scienze e Tecnologie, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
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Pauler CM, Isselstein J, Berard J, Braunbeck T, Schneider MK. Grazing Allometry: Anatomy, Movement, and Foraging Behavior of Three Cattle Breeds of Different Productivity. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:494. [PMID: 32923468 PMCID: PMC7457131 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern breeding has formed a multitude of cattle breeds ranging from undemanding, low-productive breeds to high-productive, specialized dairy, or beef cattle. The choice of breed has important implications for farm management, but its impact on pasture vegetation is underestimated. We hypothesized (i) that anatomy, movement, and foraging behavior of cattle are allometrically related on the individual level, (ii) that differences among cattle are not explained by individual variation alone but also by breed, and (iii) that anatomy, movement, and foraging behavior of a cattle breed is related to its productivity. In order to test these hypotheses, we conducted a controlled grazing experiment in which three cattle breeds simultaneously grazed three types of heterogenous, alpine pastures: low-productive Highland cattle (average weight: 358 kg); local, dual-purpose Original Braunvieh (582 kg); and high-productive Angus × Holstein crossbreed (679 kg). We measured body weight and claw base of nine cows per breed after 10 weeks of grazing alpine pastures. Over a period of 9 days, we recorded the step frequency and lying time by pedometer and space use by GPS. Moreover, we visually observed foraging behavior on three occasions per cow. Forage selectivity and quality were calculated for every cow's diet. Allometric relationships were analyzed on the individual level by fitting standardized major axes. For most parameters measured, we detected strong allometric relationships and clear differences among breeds that depended on the level of productivity. The claws of Highland cattle were relatively large compared to their body weight and thus they exerted less static pressure than other breeds. Moreover, the more productive a breed was, the higher its selectivity and step frequency were. For example, Highland cattle foraged shrubs and thistles more frequently than high-productive Angus × Holstein. The latter walked longer distances to select higher-quality forage, while Highland cattle used the space more evenly, visited steeper slopes, and moved further away from water points. Irrespective of breed, vegetation composition influenced cattle behavior: On pastures of low forage quality, animals walked more, foraged more selectively, and used space less evenly. In conclusion, the observed breed-specific differences can be used to improve pasture management and grassland conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caren M Pauler
- Forage Production and Grassland Systems, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Crop Sciences, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany.,Centre for Organismal Studies, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Joel Berard
- AgroVet-Strickhof, Lindau, Switzerland.,Animal Production Systems and Animal Health, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Braunbeck
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany
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Bernhard JK, Vidondo B, Achermann RL, Rediger R, Müller KE, Steiner A. Carpal, tarsal, and stifle skin lesion prevalence and potential risk factors in Swiss dairy cows kept in tie stalls: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228808. [PMID: 32049990 PMCID: PMC7015392 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of skin lesions at the legs of dairy cows often serves as an indicator for animal welfare and is used as a measurement of adequacy of the present housing conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of skin lesions at the carpus, tarsus, and stifle in Swiss dairy cows kept in tie stalls and to describe potential risk factors associated with the different types and severities thereof. Skin lesions and potential risk factors were assessed in 627 cows of 27 tie stall farms in a cross-sectional study. The associations of each outcome and the potential risk factors were assessed by means of logistic regression models using farm as the random factor. One odds ratio was obtained for each biologically relevant risk factor category and the final models were compared between the lesion types and locations. Tarsal lesions were recorded most frequently, with a prevalence of 62.2, 34.4, and 24.0% for moderate to severe hair loss, any severity of ulceration, and moderate to severe swelling, respectively. The prevalence of carpal lesions ranged from 54.4% for hair loss, over 7.7% for ulceration, to 6.1% for swelling, while stifle lesions were recorded less frequently with a prevalence of 18.6, 8.9, 3.4% for hair loss, ulceration, and swelling, respectively. The risk for various skin lesion types and locations significantly increased, when the concrete stall base was covered with a rubber mat and the bedding depth was low. Cows were at the lowest risk to develop skin lesions when they had more than 13 days of outdoor exercise per month. The prevalence of skin lesions in tied Swiss dairy cows is remarkably high and could possibly be reduced by providing the herd more frequent outdoor exercise and a well-cushioned, friction-absorbing and non-abrasive lying surface.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Beatriz Vidondo
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Liebefeld, Switzerland
| | | | - Rahel Rediger
- Clinic for Ruminants, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kerstin Elisabeth Müller
- Clinic for Ruminants and Swine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Adrian Steiner
- Clinic for Ruminants, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Mattiello S, Battini M, De Rosa G, Napolitano F, Dwyer C. How Can We Assess Positive Welfare in Ruminants? Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:E758. [PMID: 31581658 PMCID: PMC6826499 DOI: 10.3390/ani9100758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Until now, most research has focused on the development of indicators of negative welfare, and relatively few studies provide information on valid, reliable, and feasible indicators addressing positive aspects of animal welfare. However, a lack of suffering does not guarantee that animals are experiencing a positive welfare state. The aim of the present review is to identify promising valid and reliable animal-based indicators for the assessment of positive welfare that might be included in welfare assessment protocols for ruminants, and to discuss them in the light of the five domains model, highlighting possible gaps to be filled by future research. Based on the existing literature in the main databases, each indicator was evaluated in terms of its validity, reliability, and on-farm feasibility. Some valid indicators were identified, but a lot of the validity evidence is based on their absence when a negative situation is present; furthermore, only a few indicators are available in the domains of Nutrition and Health. Reliability has been seldom addressed. On-farm feasibility could be increased by developing specific sampling strategies and/or relying on the use of video- or automatic-recording devices. In conclusion, several indicators are potentially available (e.g., synchronisation of lying and feeding, coat or fleece condition, qualitative behaviour assessment), but further research is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Mattiello
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Monica Battini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe De Rosa
- Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy.
| | - Fabio Napolitano
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy.
| | - Cathy Dwyer
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare, SRUC, Easter Bush Campus, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.
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Zuliani A, Mair M, Kraševec M, Lora I, Brscic M, Cozzi G, Leeb C, Zupan M, Winckler C, Bovolenta S. A survey of selected animal-based measures of dairy cattle welfare in the Eastern Alps: Toward context-based thresholds. J Dairy Sci 2017; 101:1428-1436. [PMID: 29224861 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2017-13257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In the Alps, traditional dairy farms are small-scale operations where vertical transhumance from valley indoor housing systems to highland pasture-based systems is still practiced in summer. Vertical transhumance implies a substantial change of environment, available resources, and management practices from one season to another. In such systems, animal-based welfare measures need to be monitored throughout the year to capture the variation of welfare outcomes, based on which targeted welfare management plans can be implemented. Because the Welfare Quality assessment approach has been tailored to indoor housing and intensive farming systems, the European Food Safety Authority recently developed a welfare assessment protocol for small-scale dairy cattle farms adapted after the Welfare Quality framework. The aim of this study was to assess nonbehavioral animal-based measures as defined by this protocol at different time points for transhumant systems in the Alps. In total, 18 animal-based measures were assessed before, during, and after the mountain pasture period in a sample of 67 small-scale dairy cattle farms practicing vertical transhumance in neighboring provinces of Austria, Italy, and Slovenia. Significant differences between assessments were identified for dirtiness of legs and teats, hairless patches, lesions and swellings, claw condition, ocular discharge, and diarrhea whereas BCS, lameness/severe lameness, vulvar discharge, nasal discharge, and hampered respiration were unchanged between seasons. In addition, a benchmarking exercise was carried out to identify relative boundaries (worst quartile thresholds) for each animal-based measure and to contribute to the discussion about achievable welfare outcomes for the 2 husbandry conditions that characterize a transhumant system. Worst quartile thresholds indicated a high prevalence of dirtiness (>80%) when cows were kept indoors, high prevalence of hairless patches (65%) before pasture turnout, and high prevalence of very lean cows (>13%) throughout the assessments. On the other hand, the best quartile thresholds for most clinical conditions suggested that high welfare standards (zero prevalence) are widely achievable in mountain farms practicing vertical transhumance during all assessments. The thresholds identified through benchmarking should serve as the basis for an effective context-based welfare management strategy promoting continuous welfare improvement on-farm.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Zuliani
- Department of Food, Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - M Mair
- Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - M Kraševec
- Department of Animal Science, University of Ljubljana, 1230 Domžale, Slovenia
| | - I Lora
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - M Brscic
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - G Cozzi
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - C Leeb
- Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - M Zupan
- Department of Animal Science, University of Ljubljana, 1230 Domžale, Slovenia
| | - C Winckler
- Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - S Bovolenta
- Department of Food, Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
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15
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Zucali M, Battelli G, Battini M, Bava L, Decimo M, Mattiello S, Povolo M, Brasca M. Multi-dimensional assessment and scoring system for dairy farms. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2016.1218304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maddalena Zucali
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Giovanna Battelli
- Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, National Research Council, Milano, Italy
| | - Monica Battini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Luciana Bava
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Marilù Decimo
- Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, National Research Council, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvana Mattiello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Milena Povolo
- Centro di Ricerca per le produzioni Foraggere e Lattiero-Casearie, Council for Research in Agriculture and the Agrarian Economy Analysis, Lodi, Italy
| | - Milena Brasca
- Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, National Research Council, Milano, Italy
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16
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Zendri F, Ramanzin M, Bittante G, Sturaro E. Transhumance of dairy cows to highland summer pastures interacts with breed to influence body condition, milk yield and quality. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2016.1217176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Zendri
- Dipartimento di Agronomia Animali Alimenti Risorse Naturali e Ambiente, University of Padova, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Maurizio Ramanzin
- Dipartimento di Agronomia Animali Alimenti Risorse Naturali e Ambiente, University of Padova, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Giovanni Bittante
- Dipartimento di Agronomia Animali Alimenti Risorse Naturali e Ambiente, University of Padova, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Enrico Sturaro
- Dipartimento di Agronomia Animali Alimenti Risorse Naturali e Ambiente, University of Padova, Legnaro (PD), Italy
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17
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18
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Battini M, Peric T, Ajuda I, Vieira A, Grosso L, Barbieri S, Stilwell G, Prandi A, Comin A, Tubaro F, Mattiello S. Hair coat condition: A valid and reliable indicator for on-farm welfare assessment in adult dairy goats. Small Rumin Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2014.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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19
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Richardson IW, Bradley DG, Higgins IM, More SJ, McClure J, Berry DP. Variance components for susceptibility to Mycobacterium bovis infection in dairy and beef cattle. Genet Sel Evol 2014; 46:77. [PMID: 25407624 PMCID: PMC4234858 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-014-0077-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection of livestock with bovine tuberculosis (bTB; Mycobacterium bovis) is of major economical concern in many countries; approximately 15 000 to 20 000 cattle are infected per year in Ireland. The objective of this study was to quantify the genetic variation for bTB susceptibility in Irish dairy and beef cattle. METHODS A total of 105 914 cow, 56 904 heifer and 21 872 steer single intra-dermal comparative tuberculin test records (i.e., binary trait) collected from the years 2001 to 2010 from dairy and beef herds were included in the analysis. Only animal level data pertaining to periods of herd bTB infection were retained. Variance components for bTB were estimated using animal linear and threshold mixed models and co-variances were estimated using sire linear mixed models. RESULTS Using a linear model, the heritability for susceptibility to bTB in the entire dataset was 0.11 and ranged from 0.08 (heifers in dairy herds) to 0.19 (heifers in beef herds) among the sub-populations investigated. Differences in susceptibility to bTB between breeds were clearly evident. Estimates of genetic correlations for bTB susceptibility between animal types (i.e., cows, heifers, steers) were all positive (0.10 to 0.64), yet different from one. Furthermore, genetic correlations for bTB susceptibility between environments that differed in herd prevalence of bTB ranged from 0.06 to 0.86 and were all different from one. CONCLUSIONS Genetic trends for bTB susceptibility observed in this study suggest a slight increase in genetic susceptibility to bTB in recent years. Since bTB is of economic importance and because all animals are routinely tested at least once annually in Ireland and some other countries, the presence of genetic variation for bTB susceptibility suggests that bTB susceptibility should be included in a national breeding program to halt possible deterioration in genetic susceptibility to bTB infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Donagh P Berry
- Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Center, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co, Cork, Ireland.
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20
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Battini M, Vieira A, Barbieri S, Ajuda I, Stilwell G, Mattiello S. Invited review: Animal-based indicators for on-farm welfare assessment for dairy goats. J Dairy Sci 2014; 97:6625-48. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2013-7493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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21
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Track way distance and cover as risk factors for lameness in Danish dairy cows. Prev Vet Med 2014; 113:625-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2013.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Revised: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 11/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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