RT Journal Article
T1 Relationship between quality of facilities, animal-based welfare indicators and measures of reproductive and productive performances on dairy farms in the northwest of Spain
A1 Verdes, Sonia
A1 Trillo Dono, Yolanda
A1 Peña Martínez, Ana Isabel
A1 García Herradón, Pedro José
A1 Becerra González, Juan José
A1 Quintela Arias, Luis Ángel
K1 Dairy cattle
K1 Cow comfort
K1 Body condition score
K1 Hygiene score
K1 Lameness score
AB The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of facility comfort level on animal-based welfare indicators as well as on productive and reproductive parameters of 187 dairy farms in the northwest of Spain. Fifty-eight facility-based parameters, which included both housing facili- ties and management parameters, were evaluated in each farm and used to classify the 187 farms in 5 groups (from 1: top farms to 5: worst farms). Animal-based welfare indicators and reproductive and productive parameters were compared among farm groups. Lameness score significantly differed (p<.005) in top farms (67% of cows having normal gait) versus groups 4 (55%) and 5 (53%). The proportion of cows with dirty lower legs and udder was lower (p<.05) in top farms (80% and 31%, respectively) than in groups 4 (92% and 51%) and 5 (95% and 56%). Other animal-based indicators were not different among farm groups. Heat detection rate was higher (p<.001) in top farms (56.5%) versus groups 4 (51%) and 5 (47%), and milk produc- tion/cow/day was also significantly higher (p<.001) in top farms (34.4 L) versus groups 3 (31.2 L), 4 (30.5 L) and 5 (27.4 L). Other reproductive or productive parameters were not different among farm groups. Facility-based measures were compared only between the top and worst farms. In top farms, most facility-based parameters met the welfare-related objectives, whereas in the worst farms only a few facility-based parameters met the welfare objectives.
PB Taylor & Francis
SN 1594-4077
YR 2020
FD 2020
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/22095
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/22095
LA eng
NO Sonia Verdes, Yolanda Trillo, Ana I. Peña, Pedro G. Herradón, Juan J. Becerra & Luis A. Quintela (2020) Relationship between quality of facilities, animal-based welfare indicators and measures of reproductive and productive performances on dairy farms in the northwest of Spain, Italian Journal of Animal Science, 19:1, 319-329
NO This study was partly supported by the Diputación Provincial de Lugo [Convenio 2015-CP011]
DS Minerva
RD 8 jun 2026