scholarly journals Stocking Density Affects Welfare Indicators in Horses Reared for Meat Production

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Raspa ◽  
Martina Tarantola ◽  
Domenico Bergero ◽  
Claudio Bellino ◽  
Chiara Maria Mastrazzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Standing Position ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Assessment Protocol ◽  
Welfare Indicators ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Breeding Farms ◽  
Tail Condition

Horses kept for meat production are reared in intensive breeding farms. We employed a checklist adapted from the Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) assessment protocol. Our evaluation aims to assess whether welfare indicators are influenced by stocking densities (m2/horse) and feeding strategies applied. An analysis was carried out on the data obtained from 7 surveys conducted at a single horse farm designed for meat production. In each survey, the same 12 pens were assessed, but on each occasion, the horses in the pens had been changed as had the stocking densities. Briefly, 561 horses aged 16 ± 8 months (mean ± standard deviation) were evaluated. Two stocking density cut-off values (median and 75th percentile: 3.95 and 4.75 m2/horse, respectively) were applied to investigate the effect of stocking density on horse welfare. Data were analysed using Mann–Whitney U and Fisher’s exact tests (p < 0.05). When cut-off was set as the median percentile, lower stocking density was associated with improvements in body condition score (BCS), coat cleanliness and bedding quantity, less coughing, less resting in a standing position, and less feeding related to the greater space available at the feed bunk. When the 75th percentile cut-off was used, indicators that improved were coat cleanliness, bedding quantity and mane and tail condition, as well as less resting in standing position and less feeding related to the greater space available at the feed bunk. Accordingly, the use of two different stocking density cut-off values showed that the increase of space allowance affected specific welfare indicators. Further increment of space and/or changes in management regimes should be investigated to improve all the indicators. Moreover, results related to feeding indicated the need to intervene as starch intakes exceeded recommended safe levels, negatively affecting horse welfare.

scholarly journals Heat Stress and Goat Welfare: Adaptation and Production Considerations

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1021
Author(s):  
Veerasamy Sejian ◽  
Mullakkalparambil V. Silpa ◽  
Mini R. Reshma Nair ◽  
Chinnasamy Devaraj ◽  
Govindan Krishnan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Tropical Climates

This review attempted to collate and synthesize information on goat welfare and production constraints during heat stress exposure. Among the farm animals, goats arguably are considered the best-suited animals to survive in tropical climates. Heat stress was found to negatively influence growth, milk and meat production and compromised the immune response, thereby significantly reducing goats’ welfare under extensive conditions and transportation. Although considered extremely adapted to tropical climates, their production can be compromised to cope with heat stress. Therefore, information on goat adaptation and production performance during heat exposure could help assess their welfare. Such information would be valuable as the farming communities are often struggling in their efforts to assess animal welfare, especially in tropical regions. Broadly three aspects must be considered to ensure appropriate welfare in goats, and these include (i) housing and environment; (ii) breeding and genetics and (iii) handling and transport. Apart from these, there are a few other negative welfare factors in goat rearing, which differ across the production system being followed. Such negative practices are predominant in extensive systems and include nutritional stress, limited supply of good quality water, climatic extremes, parasitic infestation and lameness, culminating in low production, reproduction and high mortality rates. Broadly two types of methodologies are available to assess welfare in goats in these systems: (i) animal-based measures include behavioral measurements, health and production records and disease symptoms; (ii) resources based and management-based measures include stocking density, manpower, housing conditions and health plans. Goat welfare could be assessed based on several indicators covering behavioral, physical, physiological and productive responses. The important indicators of goat welfare include agonistic behavior, vocalization, skin temperature, body condition score (BCS), hair coat conditions, rectal temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, sweating, reduced growth, reduced milk production and reduced reproductive efficiency. There are also different approaches available by which the welfare of goats could be assessed, such as naturalistic, functional and subjective approaches. Thus, assessing welfare in goats at every production stage is a prerequisite for ensuring appropriate production in this all-important species to guarantee optimum returns to the marginal and subsistence farmers.

scholarly journals The Effect of Feeding Roughages of Varying Digestibility Prepartum on Energy Status and Metabolic Profiles in Beef Cows around Parturition

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 496
Author(s):  
Mikaela Jardstedt ◽  
Elisabet Nadeau ◽  
Mette Olaf Nielsen ◽  
Peder Nørgaard ◽  
Anna Hessle
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Rapeseed Meal ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Plasma Metabolites ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Energy Status ◽  
Meadow Fescue ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Catabolic State

Resource efficient winter-feeding of mature pregnant beef cows requires knowledge of how different roughage-based feeding strategies affect cow intake and energy status. Four diets based on traditional timothy-meadow fescue silage (TM), festulolium silage plus urea (FE), reed canarygrass silage (RC) or barley straw supplemented with urea and rapeseed meal (BR), were fed ad libitum for 16 weeks prepartum to 36 Hereford cows. Postpartum, cows were fed the same diet before release on pasture. Individual data on cow intake, changes in body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS) and plasma metabolites, calf birth and weaning weights were recorded. The TM and FE diets resulted in increased BW and BCS prepartum (p < 0.001), while the RC and BR diets resulted in a catabolic state, as indicated by a loss of BCS, lower insulin levels and higher non-esterified fatty acid levels in cows fed BR (p < 0.001). There were no dietary effects on calf parameters (p > 0.29). Feeding RC or BR prepartum might be a possible alternative to traditional timothy-meadow fescue silage if cows are allowed to regain lost BCS during the grazing period. The influence on cow reproductive- and calf performance should be considered before making this management change.

scholarly journals A Review of the Appropriate Nutrition Welfare Criteria of Dairy Donkeys: Nutritional Requirements, Farm Management Requirements and Animal-Based Indicators

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Raspa ◽  
Laura Cavallarin ◽  
Amy K. McLean ◽  
Domenico Bergero ◽  
Emanuela Valle
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nutritional Requirements ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Donkey Milk ◽  
Assessment Protocol ◽  
Condition Score

Data are available in the scientific literature concerning the quality and usefulness of donkey milk for human consumption. However, there is a lack of studies related to the understanding of the welfare of dairy donkeys. The only attempt, at a European Union level, to assess the welfare of donkeys is that of the Animal Welfare Indicator’s (AWIN) welfare assessment protocol for donkeys, where the appropriate nutrition welfare criteria have been assessed, but only through the evaluation of the body condition score. However, several other indicators that take into account the importance of good feeding welfare principles should be considered for the correct management of dairy donkeys. Therefore, it is hoped that this review of the available scientific literature will be useful to help establish a set of appropriate welfare requirements and indicators for the management of dairy donkeys. The review is aimed at identifying and discussing other requirements and indicators, such as nutritional requirements, farm management requirements and animal-based indicators, which may be important for the correct assessment of the appropriate nutrition welfare criteria and to establish best practices for the feeding of dairy donkeys.

scholarly journals Time-Budget of Horses Reared for Meat Production: Influence of Stocking Density on Behavioural Activities and Subsequent Welfare

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1334
Author(s):  
Federica Raspa ◽  
Martina Tarantola ◽  
Domenico Bergero ◽  
Joana Nery ◽  
Alice Visconti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Budget ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Frequency Standard ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Behavioural Activity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Breeding Farms ◽  
Young Horses ◽  
Intensive Breeding

Horses reared for meat production can be kept in intensive breeding farms where they are housed in group pens at high stocking densities. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the expressed behaviours correlated with stocking density, and to compare their time-budget with that of wild-living horses. An ethogram of 13 mutually exclusive behavioural activities was developed. Behavioural observations were performed over a 72 h period on group pens selected on the basis of stocking density and the homogeneity of breed, age, height at the withers, and time since arriving at the farm. Scan sampling (n = 96 scans/horse/day) was used on 22 horses. The mean frequency (%) ± standard deviation (±SD) for each behavioural activity was calculated to obtain the time-budget. The associations between time-budget and stocking density were evaluated using a bivariate analysis. The relationships were analysed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r). Our results show that locomotion, playing, and self-grooming positively correlated with a reduction in stocking density, indicating the potential to use these behaviours as positive welfare indicators for young horses kept in group pens. The data also revealed an unusual time-budget, where the main behavioural activity expressed was standing (30.56% ± 6.56%), followed by feeding (30.55% ± 3.59%), lying (27.33% ± 2.05%), and locomotion (4.07% ± 1.06%).

Body Condition Score (BCS) and Body Weight of Nellore Brown Sheep at Various Reproductive Stages in Different Systems of Rearing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Rangamma ◽  
A. Sarat Chandra ◽  
N. Rajanna ◽  
M. Gnana Prakash ◽  
M. Venkateswarulu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation

Background: Body Condition Score in sheep was used to evaluate the adequacy of previous feed supply, decide potential feed requirements in the future, evaluate individual animal health status, decide animal condition during daily routine, welfare inspection and in meat production systems.Methods: 60 Nellore brown ewes from Livestock Research Station, Mamnoor, Warangal district was randomly allotted to three rearing systems i.e Intensive (G1), Semi-intensive (G2) and Extensive (G3) system of each 20 animals. BCS and Body weight of the sheep was recorded at various reproductive stages i.e. just before breeding of animals, during pregnancy and lactation period to assess the nutritional status and reproductive performance of the sheep.Result: The mean average body weight (Kg) of pregnant ewes in G2 group had no significant (P less than 0.05) difference with G3 group. The average mean body weight (Kg) of ewes in G1 (27.58 ± 0.37kg) group had significant (P less than 0.05) difference with G2 (25.50 ± 0.32kg) group during lactation period of 90 days. The total gain of BCS during pregnancy period in the G1, G2 and G3 groups were 0.63 ± 0.06, 0.53 ± 0.06 and 0.44 ± 0.11, respectively. The overall mean BCS of the ewes 48hrs after lambing was higher in G1 (3.0 ± 0.10) group followed by G2 (2.73 ± 0.10) and G3 (2.38 ± 0.08) group.

Effects of stocking density and supplement level on milk production and cheese characteristics in Brown cows grazing on mountain pasture

2008 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Bovolenta ◽  
Elena Saccà ◽  
Mirco Corazzin ◽  
Flavia Gasperi ◽  
Franco Biasioli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Calcium Content ◽  
Nitrogen Fractions ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Mountain Pasture ◽  
Textural Parameters

Twenty-eight Brown cows were maintained on a mountain pasture for a period of 40 days and assigned to 4 groups following a factorial design 2 stocking density (0·7 and 1·4 cows/ha)×2 supplement levels (2·4 and 4·8 kg organic matter (OM)/d). Herbage intake, animal body condition score (BCS), milk yield, milk chemical and coagulation properties, cheese composition, rheology and sensory characteristics were measured. The average herbage intake was 12·2 kg OM/d, with a significant effect related to stocking density (low, 13·1 v. high, 11·4 kg OM/d). BCS variation was always negative and changed with supplement level, although with no statistical significance (−0·43 points on average). Milk yield was lower for the group with lower availability of herbage (low supplement and high stocking density: 15·9 kg/d), whereas it was comparable among others groups (16·9 kg/d on average). The group with high supplement and low stocking density produced milk with worse cheese making properties. Cheese composition analyses showed an effect of supplement level on calcium content, and on parameters for degree of ripening, such as nitrogen fractions and lipolysis index. As for the textural parameters, hardness and gumminess were found to be higher with the low level of supplement. The different level of supplementation could differentiate the groups on the basis of the sensory perception of cheese.

scholarly journals Use of Remote Camera Traps to Evaluate Animal-Based Welfare Indicators in Individual Free-Roaming Wild Horses

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2101
Author(s):  
Andrea M. Harvey ◽  
John M. Morton ◽  
David J. Mellor ◽  
Vibeke Russell ◽  
Rosalie S. Chapple ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Video Observation ◽  
Still Images ◽  
Welfare Indicators ◽  
Extensive Range ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Remote Camera ◽  
Close Spatial Proximity

We previously developed a Ten-Stage Protocol for scientifically assessing the welfare of individual free-roaming wild animals using the Five Domains Model. The protocol includes developing methods for measuring or observing welfare indices. In this study, we assessed the use of remote camera traps to evaluate an extensive range of welfare indicators in individual free-roaming wild horses. Still images and videos were collected and analysed to assess whether horses could be detected and identified individually, which welfare indicators could be reliably evaluated, and whether behaviour could be quantitatively assessed. Remote camera trapping was successful in detecting and identifying horses (75% on still images and 72% on video observation events), across a range of habitats including woodlands where horses could not be directly observed. Twelve indicators of welfare across the Five Domains were assessed with equal frequency on both still images and video, with those most frequently assessable being body condition score (73% and 79% of observation events, respectively), body posture (76% for both), coat condition (42% and 52%, respectively), and whether or not the horse was sweating excessively (42% and 45%, respectively). An additional five indicators could only be assessed on video; those most frequently observable being presence or absence of weakness (66%), qualitative behavioural assessment (60%), presence or absence of shivering (51%), and gait at walk (50%). Specific behaviours were identified in 93% of still images and 84% of video events, and proportions of time different behaviours were captured could be calculated. Most social behaviours were rarely observed, but close spatial proximity to other horses, as an indicator of social bonds, was recorded in 36% of still images, and 29% of video observation events. This is the first study that describes detailed methodology for these purposes. The results of this study can also form the basis of application to other species, which could contribute significantly to advancing the field of wild animal welfare.

scholarly journals Effects of winter feeding strategies with alternative feeds on the performance of mature suckler cows and their progeny

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 348 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. MANNINEN ◽  
K. SAARIJÄRVI ◽  
H. HUHTA
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Reproduction Strategy ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Alternative Feeds ◽  
Barley Silage

The present study evaluated the effects of feeding strategies with alternative feeds on the performance of mature suckler cows and their progeny during indoor feeding and subsequent grazing. In both experiments, a 2 × 2 factorially arranged design consisted of two feeding strategies (Step-up, Sas offered on Strategy S, but at a constant daily level. In Experiment 1, cows on Diet C were offered grass silage and straw and on Diet A grass silage and a fl our-mill industry by-product. On Strategy S, feeding was stepped with barley (0, 1.5 and 3.5 kg d-1). On Strategy F, barley was offered 1.43 kg per head daily. In Experiment 2, cows were offered either grass silage (C) or whole-crop barley silage (A) as a sole feed. Strategy S was carried out by offering 68, 95 and 119 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per cow daily. On Strategy F, roughage was given daily 97 MJ ME. In both experiments, there were no signifi cant differences between treatments in the cow live weight, body condition score, calf pre-weaning live weight gain and cow reproduction. Strategy F can be practised in the nutrition of mature suckler cows in marginal circumstances. Flour-mill industry by-product can partly replace grass silage and straw in the winter diet. Wholecrop barley silage can be offered as a sole feed to suckler cows with good body condition score in autumn.;

scholarly journals Animal-Based Indicators for On-Farm Welfare Assessment in Goats

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3138
Author(s):  
Adrian Minnig ◽  
Romane Zufferey ◽  
Beat Thomann ◽  
Sibylle Zwygart ◽  
Nina Keil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Dairy Goats ◽  
Hair Coat ◽  
Welfare Indicators ◽  
Current State ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Full Text Screening

This review describes the current state of knowledge relating to scientific literature on welfare indicators for goats. Our aim was to provide an overview of animal-based indicators for on-farm welfare assessments. We performed a literature search and extracted 96 relevant articles by title, abstract, and full-text screening. Out of these articles, similar indicators were aggregated to result in a total of 32 welfare indicators, some of which were covered in multiple articles, others in only a single one. We discuss a set of three established assessment protocols containing these indicators, as well as all individual indicators which were covered in more than one article. As single indicators, we identified lameness, body condition score (BCS), qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA), and human–animal relationship (HAR) tests with substantial evidence for sufficient validity to assess welfare in goats. A multitude of indicators (e.g., hair coat condition) was studied less intensively but was successfully used for welfare assessments. For some indicators (e.g., oblivion, lying behaviour), we highlight the need for future research to further validate them or to optimise their use in on-farm welfare assessments. Moreover, further investigations need to include kids, bucks, and meat and fibre goats, as well as extensively kept goats as the literature predominantly focuses on dairy goats in intensive production systems.

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