Assessment of animal welfare in 80 dairy cow herds in cubicle housing - animal health and other animal-related parameters

Introduction With growing concerns about farm animal welfare (e.g. by consumers; WILDNER, 1998), knowledge about the actual situation with regard to animal welfare on farms is important. Valid assessment of animal of animal welfare requires the use of animal-based parameters, while environmental parameters alone are not sufficient (WINCKLER et al., 2003; MULLEDER et al., 2007). Suitable animal-related measurements comprise behavioural, physiological, health and, at least partly, production parameters (TERLOUW et al., 1997; KNIERIM, 1998). The aim of this study was to assess animal welfare in dairy cows in cubicle loose housing in Austria by using animal-related parameters to identify problem areas and need for improvements. Material and methods 80 dairy herds with herd size of 21 to 55 Simmental cows were visited once on 2 consecutive half days. Animal-related parameters from all parameter groups mentioned above were recorded, i.e. rising up/lying down behaviour, avoidance distance towards humans, social interactions (behaviour), lameness, skin lesions, body condition, somatic cell count in milk (health), adrenocortical activity (physiology), milk yield and cleanliness. Data collection took place in spring 2002 and from October 2002 to March 2003. Associations between animal-related parameters were calculated by means of Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Results Data revealed substantial variation between farms in most parameters and considerable problems regarding animal health and behaviour: prevalence of lameness was 36 % (0 - 77 %) and more than 50 % of the animals had tarsal or carpal lesions. More than 80 % of the animals were restricted in rising up/lying down - behaviour. Lameness was positively associated with the percentage of animals with carpal lesions (r(s)=0.343, p=0.002) and the percentage of animals with tarsal lesions (r(s)=0.486, p<0.001). Furthermore, lameness was correlated weakly with lying down problems (r(s)=0.219, p=0.051). The percentage of animals with crusts on the tarsal joint was associated with the concentration of cortisol metabolites (r(s)=0.322, p=0.004). Conclusion In conclusion, the investigated farms showed considerable problems concerning animal welfare. Although cubicle loose housing systems in principle can fulfill the needs of cows, the results point at a clear need for improvement of animal welfare on farms. This accounts especially for health problems such as lameness and carpal and tarsal lesions as well as restrictions in rising/lying down behaviour, but also social behaviour and human-animal relationships. Successful veterinary herd health management aiming at prevention of disease and increase of animal welfare needs to consider all different areas.