Practicability of a Time-Limited Welfare Assessment Protocol for Pasture-Based Dairy Farms, and a Preliminary Assessment of Welfare Outcome Thresholds

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dc.citation.issue18
dc.citation.volume12
dc.contributor.authorSapkota S
dc.contributor.authorLaven R
dc.contributor.authorMüller KR
dc.contributor.authorKells N
dc.contributor.editorBernabucci U
dc.coverage.spatialSwitzerland
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-01T01:27:50Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-25T06:48:43Z
dc.date.available2022-09-19
dc.date.available2024-02-01T01:27:50Z
dc.date.available2024-07-25T06:48:43Z
dc.date.issued2022-09-19
dc.description.abstractThis study assessed a new time-limited protocol developed for pasture-based cows across 23 dairy farms. The process started prior to milking with a questionnaire, followed by an assessment of resources (16 farms only) and behavioural observation of cows at pasture. Remaining animal-based measures were assessed during milking, usually by two assessors (one parlour based and one outside). The protocol proved to be practical and feasible with limited changes needed, except for the assessment of water availability and behaviour. As most cows could access only one water trough, distance between troughs was not a measure of water availability, while the observation of a large numbers of cows at pasture for 30 min resulted in few observations and an uncertain denominator (effective number of observed cows). Further research is needed to determine the best way of assessing water availability and cow behaviour in a time-limited assessment of pasture-based cows. Three animal-based measures (broken tails, dirtiness, and coughing) had mean values higher than the author-determined acceptable thresholds, while <50% of farms met trough cleanliness and track condition targets, and none met the criteria for shelter and shade. This was a sample of farms based on convenience, so more data are required to establish the representativeness of these results. Such testing should involve assessment of the repeatability and reliability of the measures in our protocol.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.editionSeptember 2022
dc.format.pagination2481-
dc.identifier.author-urlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36139340
dc.identifier.citationSapkota S, Laven R, Müller KR, Kells N. (2022). Practicability of a Time-Limited Welfare Assessment Protocol for Pasture-Based Dairy Farms, and a Preliminary Assessment of Welfare Outcome Thresholds.. Animals (Basel). 12. 18. (pp. 2481-).
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/ani12182481
dc.identifier.eissn2076-2615
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn2076-2615
dc.identifier.number2481
dc.identifier.piiani12182481
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/70935
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherMDPI (Basel, Switzerland)
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2481
dc.relation.isPartOfAnimals (Basel)
dc.rights(c) 2022 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectanimal-based measures
dc.subjectlocomotion scoring
dc.subjectmilking cow
dc.subjectpaddock observation
dc.subjectwelfare threshold development
dc.titlePracticability of a Time-Limited Welfare Assessment Protocol for Pasture-Based Dairy Farms, and a Preliminary Assessment of Welfare Outcome Thresholds
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id456968
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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