Resumo
No Brasil existem poucos estudos com relação ao bem-estar dos ovinos, portanto, constante avaliação dos animais nas propriedades é necessária para identificar problemas e aprimorar o manejo dos mesmos, promovendo o bem-estar animal (BEA). Um ponto crítico de bem-estar reconhecido na ovinocultura é a caudectomia, procedimento que consiste na remoção da cauda. Não há um consenso na literatura para justificar esse procedimento, e existem evidências científicas de que a caudectomia tem impactos negativos no BEA. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi colaborar para a solução do ponto crítico caudectomia e avançar no conhecimento com relação ao grau de bem-estar de ovinos no Estado do Paraná. Este estudo foi dividido em cinco capítulos: (1) Apresentação; (2) Percepção dos produtores com relação à caudectomia em ovinos e razões para acabar com este procedimento; (3) Escore de sujidade e ocorrência de miíases comparando ovelhas sem e com cauda; (4) Bem-estar de ovinos em cabanhas e em fazendas para produção de carne, avaliado com o protocolo Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN); (5) Considerações finais. O capítulo 2 teve o objetivo de compreender a percepção dos ovinocultores em relação ao bem-estar de ovinos e procedimentos relativos à caudectomia no estado do Paraná, facilitando a discussão e as implicações em cessar a prática da caudectomia em ovinos. O estudo foi realizado por meio de entrevistas com 146 ovinocultores. Nossos resultados sugerem que os ovinocultores reconhecem que ovinos são animais sencientes e que a caudectomia causa dor. Porém, a maioria dos respondentes cortava a cauda dos animais pelo principal motivo de higiene, e apenas 5,1% utilizavam anestesia. No capítulo 3, foi avaliado o escore de sujidade, ou seja, a matéria fecal aderida à lã na região posterior, e a prevalência de miíase comparando 28 ovelhas sem cauda e 28 ovelhas com cauda em quatro propriedades que criam ovinos no Paraná e em Santa Catarina. Houve diferença no escore de sujidade quando comparadas ovelhas sem e com cauda (P = 0,0001), sendo que ovelhas com cauda apresentaram maior sujidade. No entanto a prevalência de miíase foi baixa (0,46%). Considerando os capítulos 2 e 3, devido ao fato de alguns produtores relatarem viabilidade de manter ovelhas lanadas com cauda, baixa prevalência de miíase em rebanhos de ovinos e o sofrimento dos animais, sugere-se a descontinuidade da caudectomia como procedimento no manejo de ovinos. No entanto, nossos resultados sugerem necessidade de estratégias de compensação para limpeza da região posterior após o abandono da prática. O capítulo 4 forneceu informações sobre o bem-estar de ovinos comparando ovelhas criadas em cabanhas e ovelhas criadas para gerar cordeiros para abate, utilizando o protocolo de BEA AWIN. Dezesseis propriedades criadoras de ovinos foram visitadas em 2015, no Paraná. De maneira geral, o BEA foi aparentemente maior em cabanhas considerando características da lã. Espera-se que resultados do presente trabalho encorajem produtores e pessoas que trabalham diretamente com animais a questionarem práticas culturais que afetam o BEA, como a caudectomia, e que exista constante avaliação do bem-estar de ovinos, identificando problemas e aprimorando o manejo desses animais.
In Brazil there are few studies in relation to sheep welfare , therefore, constant assessment of sheep on farm is necessary to identify problems and improve animals management, promoting animal welfare. One critical point recognized in sheep farms is tail docking, a procedure that consist in the removal of the tail. There is no consensus in the literature to justify this procedure , and there is scientific evidence that tail docking negatively impacts sheep welfare. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to collaborate to the resolution of the critical point tail docking and to advance the knowledge about sheep welfare in the state of Parana. This study is divided in five chapters: (1) Presentation; (2) Farmer perceptions concerning sheep tail docking and reasons to end this management procedure; (3) Dag score and fly strike prevalence comparing ewes with docked and undocked tail; (4) Sheep welfare in stud and meat farms measured with the Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) protocol; (5) Final considerations. Chapter 2 had the objective to better understand farmer perception regarding sheep welfare and procedures concerning the tail docking of sheep in the State of Parana, South of Brazil, to facilitate discussion of this procedure and the implications of ceasing tail docking of sheep. Study was carried out through interviews with 146 sheep farmers. Our results suggest that farmers in Parana recognize that sheep are sentient animals and that tail docking causes pain. However, most of the farmers docked their sheep tails for the main reason of hygiene, and only 5.1% used anesthesia during docking. On chapter 3 it was evaluated dag score, i.e. faecal material adhering to the wool surrounding the breech, and the prevalence of fly strike comparing 28 wool ewes with docked tail and 28 wool ewes with undocked tail in four farms that raise sheep in the States of Parana and Santa Catarina. There was a significant difference in dag score when comparing docked to undocked ewes (P = 0.0001), with undocked ewes presenting higher dag score. However, prevalence of fly strike was low (0.46%). Considering chapters 2 and 3, due to the fact that some farmers reported the viability of maintaining wool sheep with undocked tail, the low prevalence of fly strike in sheep flock and the suffering involved, we suggest ceasing tail docking as a regular management procedure for sheep. However, our results suggest necessity of compensation strategies after ceasing of tail docking procedure. Chapter 4 provided information about sheep welfare comparing ewes raised in stud farms and ewes raised to generate lambs for meat purposes, using AWIN protocol. Sixteen sheep farms were visited in 2015, in Parana. Overall welfare seems higher in stud farms considering fleece characteristics. It is hoped that results of the present study encourage farmers and people directly involved to animals to question cultural practices that affect animal welfare, as tail docking in sheep, and to constantly assess sheep welfare, identifying problems and improving sheep management. Key words: In Brazil there are few studies in relation to sheep welfare , therefore, constant assessment of sheep on farm is necessary to identify problems and improve animals management, promoting animal welfare. One critical point recognized in sheep farms is tail docking, a procedure that consist in the removal of the tail. There is no consensus in the literature to justify this procedure , and there is scientific evidence that tail docking negatively impacts sheep welfare. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to collaborate to the resolution of the critical point tail docking and to advance the knowledge about sheep welfare in the state of Parana. This study is divided in five chapters: (1) Presentation; (2) Farmer perceptions concerning sheep tail docking and reasons to end this management procedure; (3) Dag score and fly strike prevalence comparing ewes with docked and undocked tail; (4) Sheep welfare in stud and meat farms measured with the Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) protocol; (5) Final considerations. Chapter 2 had the objective to better understand farmer perception regarding sheep welfare and procedures concerning the tail docking of sheep in the State of Parana, South of Brazil, to facilitate discussion of this procedure and the implications of ceasing tail docking of sheep. Study was carried out through interviews with 146 sheep farmers. Our results suggest that farmers in Parana recognize that sheep are sentient animals and that tail docking causes pain. However, most of the farmers docked their sheep tails for the main reason of hygiene, and only 5.1% used anesthesia during docking. On chapter 3 it was evaluated dag score, i.e. faecal material adhering to the wool surrounding the breech, and the prevalence of fly strike comparing 28 wool ewes with docked tail and 28 wool ewes with undocked tail in four farms that raise sheep in the States of Parana and Santa Catarina. There was a significant difference in dag score when comparing docked to undocked ewes (P = 0.0001), with undocked ewes presenting higher dag score. However, prevalence of fly strike was low (0.46%). Considering chapters 2 and 3, due to the fact that some farmers reported the viability of maintaining wool sheep with undocked tail, the low prevalence of fly strike in sheep flock and the suffering involved, we suggest ceasing tail docking as a regular management procedure for sheep. However, our results suggest necessity of compensation strategies after ceasing of tail docking procedure. Chapter 4 provided information about sheep welfare comparing ewes raised in stud farms and ewes raised to generate lambs for meat purposes, using AWIN protocol. Sixteen sheep farms were visited in 2015, in Parana. Overall welfare seems higher in stud farms considering fleece characteristics. It is hoped that results of the present study encourage farmers and people directly involved to animals to question cultural practices that affect animal welfare, as tail docking in sheep, and to constantly assess sheep welfare, identifying problems and improving sheep management.