Estimation of housing conditions regarding to welfare of dairy cows

Abstract

In this paper, results of housing conditions estimation regarding minimal standards of welfare are presented. Data are collected from the farm where, depending on production cycle phase dairy cows are kept loose or tied in close stalls. Assessment is achieved due average sum of points for spatial, hygienic and microclimate parameters, and housing in all stalls is estimated as 'good' (from possible 0 to 5 points conditions in loose and tied system stall are estimated with 3,00 and 2,63 points). These grades show that in the main, at examined farm minimal standards and animal needs regarding housing conditions are satisfied. Furthermore, they indicate presence of some failures which influence that lower grade for certain parameters is given. Determination of failures is first step in carrying out of problems regarding housing conditions, what leads to improvement of welfare and production results at the farm. That could be reason for more frequent applying of here described system of assessment, and is important for quick and routine checking of housing conditions and dairy cows welfare at farms in our country.

U ovom radu su prikazani rezultati ocene uslova smeštaja u pogledu ispunjenja minimalnih standarda dobrobiti. Podaci su prikupljeni na farmi mlečnih krava koje se, zavisno od faze proizvodnog ciklusa, drže slobodno ili vezano u stajama zatvorenog tipa. Procena je izvršena na osnovu prosečne ocene parametara koji određuju prostorne, higijenske i mikroklimatske uslove, pri čemu je smeštaj u svim stajama ocenjen kao 'dobar' (od mogućih 0 do 5 bodova, uslovi u staji za slobodno držanje ocenjeni su sa 3,00 a u staji za vezano držanje sa 2,63 boda). Ove ocene ukazuju da su na ispitivanoj farmi minimalni standardi i potrebe životinja u pogledu uslova smeštaja u većoj meri zadovoljeni, ali i da postoje propusti zbog kojih je data niža ocena za pojedine parametre. Utvrđivanje propusta prvi je korak u rešavanju problema koji se tiču uslova gajenja, što vodi ka poboljšanju dobrobiti i proizvodnih rezultata. To može biti razlog za redovnu primenu ovde opisanog sistema procene i ima značaja za brzo i rutinsko sagledavanje uslova smeštaja i dobrobiti mlečnih krava na farmama u našoj zemlji.