Animal welfare standards on cattle and pig farms

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to determine the level of the animal welfare standards application on cattle and pigs farms. Research was conducted on four farms, two cattle farms (A, B) and two pig farms (C, D). The capacity of farm A is 260 cows, farm B 100 cows, farm C 1000 breeding sows, and farm D 100 breeding sows approximately. All farms have the appropriate number of other cattle or pigs categories. To assess the level of implementation of the animal welfare standards on the cattle and pig farms were rated from 0 to 5 (0 - unsatisfactory, there are no resources to improve, 1 - unsatisfactory, there are resources to improve, 2 - sufficient, 3 - good, 4 - very good, 5 - excellent) and rating scales: 0-1,99 (insufficient), 2,00-2,49 (sufficient), 2,5-3,49 (good), 3 5 to 4.49 (very good), and 4.5 to 5.00 (excellent). The estimations include a written plan of welfare, farm management and administration, professional competence, stockman competence, spatial, microclimate and hygienic conditions, veterinary and zootechnical procedures, health status, satisfaction of animal behavior needs, physiological and behavioral indicators, and production indicators regarding welfare as well. The estimated level of protection of animal welfare on the farm A is 3.60 (very good), on farm B 2.53 (good), on the farm C 3.47 (good) and on the farm D 3.27 (good). Studies have shown that there is no written plan in any cattle and pig's farm study, as well as consistent application of welfare standards. On farms B and D lower grades although sufficient for the stockman competence have been established. In addition, on farm B the same grades have been established for the farm administration and management, stockman competence, professional competence, animal nutrition and physiological indicators of welfare.

Osnovni cilj ovog rada je utvrđivanje nivoa primene standarda zaštite dobrobiti životinja na farmama goveda i svinja. Istraživanja su izvršena na ukupno četiri farme, po dve farme goveda (A, B) i svinja (C, D). Na farmi A nalazi se oko 260 krava, na farmi B 100 krava, na farmi C 1000 priplodnih krmača i na farmi D 100 priplodnih krmača. Sve farme imaju i odgovarajući broj drugih kategorija goveda ili svinja. Za procenu nivoa primene standarda zaštite dobrobiti na farmama goveda i svinja korišćene su ocene od 0 do 5 (0 - nedovoljan, nema resursa za poboljšanje, 1 - nedovoljan, ima resursa za poboljšanje, 2 - dovoljan, 3 - dobar, 4 - vrlo dobar, 5 - odličan) i skale ocena: 0-1,99 nedovoljan, 2,00-2,49 dovoljan, 2,5-3,49 dobar, 3,5-4,49 vrlo dobar i 4,5-5,00 odličan. Procene obuhvataju pisani plan zaštite dobrobiti, upravljanje i rukovođenje, kompetencije odgajivača, kompetencije stručnjaka, prostorne, mikroklimatske i higijenske uslove gajenja, veterinarske i zootehničke postupke, zdravstveno stanje, zadovoljenje sistema i oblika ponašanja životinja, fiziološke i bihevioralne, kao i proizvodne indikatore dobrobiti. Procenjeni nivo zaštite dobrobiti životinja na farmi A je iznosio 3,60 (skala ocena vrlo dobar), na farmi B 2,53 (dobar), na farmi C 3,47 (dobar) i na farmi D 3,27 (dobar). Istraživanja su pokazala da ni na jednoj od ispitivanih farmi goveda i svinja ne postoji pisani plan, kao ni konzistentna primena standarda zaštite dobrobiti. Na farmi B i D niže ocene (dovoljan) utvrđene su za kompetencije odgajivača. Pored toga, na farmi B ocene dovoljan utvrđene su i za upravljanje i rukovođenje, kompetencije odgajivača, kompetencije stručnjaka, ishranu životinja i fiziološke indikatore dobrobiti.