Study of animal welfare status in dairy cow herds in Hungary
2012
Gudaj, R.T., University of Debrecen, Debrecen (Hungary). Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management | Brydl, E., Szent István University, Budapest (Hungary). Faculty of Veterinary Science | Lehoczky, J., Szent István University, Budapest (Hungary). Faculty of Veterinary Science | Komlósi, I., University of Debrecen, Debrecen (Hungary). Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management
Animal welfare is a hot topic among consumers, producers and researches nowadays. The major welfare problems of dairy cows are mastitis, lameness, and any conditions which lead to impaired reproduction, inability to express normal behaviour, emergency physiological responses or injury. This paper summarizes preliminary results of project taken in 27 Hungarian dairy farms evaluating general animal welfare. The most important areas for improving animals’ wellbeing are related to facilities and comfort of resting. Findings include slippery floors, cows struggling laying and standing in cubicles. Other measures include hair loss, hocks, neck rail injuries and number of thin cows (Body Condition Score 1 and 2). Mouldy silage and low quality of other feedstuff was also found. In conclusion, preliminary results confirm strong demand for monitoring farms and discussions with managers and farmers about welfare measures needed to be taken on farms immediately.
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