Using Expert Elicitation for ranking hazards, promoters and animal-based measures for on-farm welfare assessment of indoor reared beef cattle: an Italian experience.
Vet Res Commun
; 47(1): 141-158, 2023 Jan.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35643878
ABSTRACT
On-farm welfare assessment gives the opportunity to monitor and improve the quality of the animal life on the farm. In order to build the first Italian public standard for the welfare of indoor reared beef cattle, a list of 25 potential hazards and 22 potential promoters of beef cattle welfare was judged by a group of national experts by taking into account their negative or positive impacts on the welfare-state of the target population. In addition, the experts were asked to rank a list of 11 animal-based measures for identifying the most appropriate and important for measuring negative welfare outcomes in beef cattle. Based on experts' ratings, an "impact score" (ISoverall) was calculated for the proposed measures. Management hazards and promoters were ranked to have a greater impact on beef cattle welfare than housing factors. Keeping cattle in large (≥ 40 animals) and heterogeneous groups obtained the highest ISoverall among the proposed hazards (ISoverall = 5.54), followed by the presence of animals without free access to drinking water (ISoverall = 4.39) and the use of high-concentrate corn silage diets (concentrate > 80% and fiber < 6%) (ISoverall = 4.39). On the other hand, housing animals in small (≤ 20 animals) and homogeneous groups (ISoverall = 5.41), checking them at least twice a day (ISoverall = 4.62) and rearing cattle in loose housing systems with access to an outdoor area/pasture (ISoverall = 4.27) were ranked among the top 3 promoters. Concerning animal-based measures, experts scored lameness, severe respiratory diseases, body condition scoring and mortality rate to be measures most important for assessing serious welfare impairment.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Doenças dos Bovinos
/
Indústria de Laticínios
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
País como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article