METHODS FOR CALF WELFARE

EVALUATIONL.T. CZISZTER1, G. STANCIU1, S.

ACATINCĂI1, E. SZÜCS2, SILVIA ERINA1, I. TRIPON1, SIMONA BAUL1

1Faculty of Animal Sciences and Biotechnologies, Timişoara, România,, 2Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary cziszterl@yahoo.com

Satisfactory animal welfare Animal’s biological functioning

Health, growth, productivity Natural living

To express normal behaviour Affective states

Suffering or pleasure

Assessment at the individual level Physical damage Physiological responses Behaviour

Assessment at the individual level Welfare = attempts to cope with its

environment (Broom, 1991) Characteristic of an animal, not given to Vary from very poor to very good Can be measured Animals may use a variety of methods trying to

cope

Assessment at the individual level Poor welfare (Broom, 1991)

Pain Fear Difficulties in movement Frustration Absence of specific input Insufficient stimulation overstimulation

Assessment at the individual level Repeated regrouping and relocation of

calves Not detrimental effects (Vessier et al., 2001)

Problems when Single calf introduced into a large established

group Mixing calves from different farms Feeding behaviour of calves not controlled

Assessment at the individual level Repeated regrouping of calves causes

(Raussi, 2005) more agonistic interactions among heifers increases distance between animals Lowers heifers’ reactivity to novelty, suddenness

and fear Diversity rather than stability of the social

environment appears to be more beneficial

Assessment at the individual level

Feed intake and growth did not reveal the differences in rearing systems for dairy calves in terms of welfare (Hepola, 2008)

Welfare assessment at the farm (system) level ANI (TGI)ANI 35L

5 aspects of housing Movement and locomotion Social interaction Type and condition of flooring Light and air conditions stockmaship

Practical and satisfactory in Austria (Bartussek, 1999) Suitable in organic farms in Finland (Roiha, 2000)

Welfare assessment at the farm (system) level ANI (TGI)ANI 35L

Six welfare categories <11 not suitable 11-16 scarcely suitable 16-21 little (mediocre) suitable 21-24 fairly suitable 24-28 suitable >28 very suitable

Welfare assessment at the farm (system) level

EFSA, 2006 major risks of poor welfare and health in intensive calf farming: Inadequate colostrum intake – duration Inadequate ventilation Exposure to pathogens Continuous restocking Mixing calves from different sources

Other minor risks: quantity and quality of colostrum, access to water, high humidity, indoor drafts, poor air quality, poor floor, poor response of the farmer, lack of maternal care, separation from the dam

Romanian calves’ welfare assessment at the farm level

ANSVSA order 72/2005 (Council Directive 91/629/EC)

Evaluation from regarding the protection and welfare of calves 76 lines to be answered to

Minimum standards 44 lines Supplementary requirements 32 line

Romanian calves’ welfare assessment at the farm level (Cziszter et al., 2008)

Farms provided good rearing conditions for calves

Provision of clean and dry bedding and access to good quality food were not very well complied with requirements