Assessment of Animal Welfare in Different Beef Cattle Housing Systems by ANI 35 L/2000 Method

Abstract

The aim of the study includes assessment of animal welfare using ANI 35L system to compare different types of beef housing systems. 42 beef farms were divided into 3 sub groups according to housing type (tie stall or loose type), condition of mechanical and technical equipment and use of labour. The sub groups of the study are: i) family type tether system (n: 18), ii) improved farms with tether systems (n: 11), iii) loose housing system (n: 13). Points given to the loose housing system found higher when they compared to tether system farms in the locomotion, social interaction and light and air categories (P<0.001). In the flooring category, family type tether systems had the lowest points when they compared to other housing systems (P<0.01). Loose housing system had higher mean about total ANI points when they compared to tether systems. As a result of ANI assessment, 94.44% of farms from family type and 63.64% of farms from improved tether systems found "not suitable for animal welfare" according to the sum of ANI points. None of the loose housing system farms take a part in this welfare category. As a result of the study, opportunity of outside exercise helps farms to improve animal welfare and structural requirements of the stall areas and service roads in the tether systems cause various welfare problems for animals.