Farm Manager Involvement in an Equine on-farm Welfare Assessment: Opportunities for Education and Improvement

his paper is based on a 2009 case study research on the role and impacts of rural initiatives in Dimitrovgrad, South-eastern Serbia region. This area is of interest, because of local efforts to conserve autochthonous livestock breeds,andtheworkofsmallholdersandindependent professionals involved farming and rural tourism activities. The research used participant visits to initiative places, drawing on farm visits, meetings with stakeholders and analysis of secondary information. The study highlights that local organizations are running without link to initiatives.Although, Serbia country has well structured rural developments programs, those still are harmonising.Thus, throughActor-Network approach is suggested which turn around a farm manager. This may represent to all stakeholders with initiatives (on-farm and non-farm). Besides, local food products issues from initiatives may reconnect providers and consumers, revaluing local food products. However, is necessary the institutional and organizational involvement to encourage the initiatives. Furthermore, to promote touristic places, by an integrated rural tourism approach it may involve all stakeholders to promote local products and issues from initiatives. Indirectly it may create local employs.

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WelFur – mink: inter-observer reliability of on-farm welfare assessment in the growth season

Proceedings of the Xth International Scientific Congress in fur animal production ◽

10.3920/978-90-8686-760-8_68 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 469-476

Author(s):

S. H. Møller ◽

T. Rousing ◽

S. W. Hansen

Keyword(s):

Growth Season ◽

Welfare Assessment ◽

Observer Reliability ◽

On Farm

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WelFur-mink: on-farm welfare assessment of mink (Neovision vision) - effect of sample size on animal based measures

Proceedings of the Xth International Scientific Congress in fur animal production ◽

10.3920/978-90-8686-760-8_61 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 420-425

Author(s):

T. Rousing ◽

S. H. Møller ◽

S. W. Hansen

Keyword(s):

Sample Size ◽

Welfare Assessment ◽

On Farm

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Animal-Based Measures for the On-Farm Welfare Assessment of Geese

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10050890 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 890

Author(s):

Carlo Tremolada ◽

Halina Bielińska ◽

Michela Minero ◽

Valentina Ferrante ◽

Elisabetta Canali ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Critical Review ◽

Production Systems ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Meat Production ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Welfare Assessment ◽

Observer Reliability ◽

Human Animal ◽

Two Phases ◽

On Farm

Currently, no specific animal-based measures (ABMs) protocols are available for geese in commercial meat production systems. Following a critical review of the literature and consultation of experts, seven ABMs, potentially valid and feasible for the on-farm welfare assessment of geese, were identified and then tested in 12 farms in Poland to assess their inter-observer reliability. Two observers conducted the assessment, which was divided into two phases. First, a handling test assessed the human–animal relationship (HAR), and a 100% inter-observer reliability was achieved by the observers when evaluating the attitudes of stockpeople and the reactions of geese to humans. Next, an animal inspection was conducted, and the observers simultaneously and independently visually evaluated 100 randomly selected geese per farm and assessed whether the selected ABMs could be identified. In terms of inter-observer reliability, high correlation coefficients were found for plumage dirtiness (ρ = 0.745; p < 0.01), twisted wings (ρ = 0.890; p < 0.001), and broken/twisted wings (ρ = 0.858; p < 0.001). The results showed that plumage dirtiness, twisted wings, and broken/twisted wings are valid and reliable measures. Further research should address the reliability of ABMs of geese in other types of production systems.

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How Can We Assess Positive Welfare in Ruminants?

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9100758 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 758 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Mattiello ◽

Battini ◽

De Rosa ◽

Napolitano ◽

Dwyer

Keyword(s):

Welfare State ◽

Animal Welfare ◽

Present Review ◽

Future Research ◽

Validity Evidence ◽

Sampling Strategies ◽

Qualitative Behaviour ◽

Nutrition And Health ◽

Welfare Assessment ◽

On Farm

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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Developing an Animal Welfare Assessment Protocol for Cows in Extensive Beef Cow–Calf Systems in New Zealand. Part 1: Assessing the Feasibility of Identified Animal Welfare Assessment Measures

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10091597 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1597 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Y. Baby Kaurivi ◽

Richard Laven ◽

Rebecca Hickson ◽

Tim Parkinson ◽

Kevin Stafford

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Animal Welfare ◽

Welfare Assessment ◽

Assessment Protocol ◽

Beef Cow ◽

Cattle Management ◽

Assessment Measures ◽

Animal Welfare Assessment ◽

Cow Calf ◽

On Farm

Potential measures suitable for assessing welfare in pasture-based beef cow–calf systems in New Zealand were identified from Welfare Quality and UC Davis Cow-Calf protocols. These were trialled on a single farm and a potential protocol of 50 measures created. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of the measures included in this protocol on multiple farms in order, to develop a credible animal welfare assessment protocol for pasture-based cow–calf farms systems in New Zealand. The assessment protocol was trialled on 25 farms over two visits and took a total of 2.5 h over both visits for a 100-cow herd. The first visit in autumn included an animal welfare assessment of 3366 cows during pregnancy scanning, while the second visit in winter included a questionnaire-guided interview to assess cattle management and health, and a farm resource evaluation. Through a process of eliminating unsuitable measures, adjustments of modifiable measures and retaining feasible measures, a protocol with 32 measures was created. The application of the protocol on the farms showed that not all measures are feasible for on-farm assessment, and categorisation of identified animal welfare measures into scores that indicate a threshold of acceptable and non-acceptable welfare standards is necessary.

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Tilapia On-Farm Welfare Assessment Protocol for Semi-intensive Production Systems

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2020.606388 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Ana Silvia Pedrazzani ◽

Murilo Henrique Quintiliano ◽

Franciele Bolfe ◽

Elaine Cristina de Oliveira Sans ◽

Carla Forte Maiolino Molento

Keyword(s):

Production Systems ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Discrimination Power ◽

Protein Ratio ◽

Air Exposure ◽

Welfare Assessment ◽

Assessment Protocol ◽

Intensive Production ◽

On Farm

The aim of this study was to develop and test a tilapia on-farm welfare assessment protocol, based on Brazilian semi-intensive production systems. The study included two mains steps: the elaboration of tilapia welfare protocol and its on-field feasibility test. The protocol, including the potential indicators organized into health, environmental, nutritional, and behavioral categories, was tested on three farms. Skin, eyes, gills, jaws, fins, and vertebral spine were individually examined in 139 individual tilapias. Water physicochemical parameters and production system were considered. The overall nutritional status of individuals was assessed through body condition factor, feed conversion ratio, feed crude protein ratio, and feed ingestion behavior. During massive capture, signals of stress, level of crowding, and duration of air exposure were registered. Time required for loss of consciousness was evaluated by clinical reflexes and other behaviors during slaughter. Eye, jaw, and gill scores were different across farms (Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.011; 0.015; 0.043, respectively), showing good discrimination power. Critical welfare points were extremely low dissolved oxygen in water, fin and skin lesions, prolonged air exposure during pre-slaughter handling and non-humane slaughter techniques, as decapitation or asphyxia. The protocol presents practical viability and it is an initial step for the development of a tilapia welfare strategy, where the prioritization of critical welfare points, implementation of corrective actions and monitoring of the results is part of a permanent welfare management system.

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