Assessment Of Dairy Cows’ Health Parameters In Relation To Welfare Quality And Rearing Season

Abstract

Due to actual global concerns for farm animal welfare and an also prominent issue of climate change effect, this study was conducted in order to examine the expression of dairy cows’ health parameters in two main seasons (winter and summer). Thirteen health parameters classified into two main groups, injuries and diseases, were selected and analysed according to their relevance for welfare provision by Welfare Quality® Assessment Protocol for Dairy Cows (2009). According to the final calculation score (0100

points) parameters were descriptively categorized as unacceptable, acceptable, enhanced or excellent in terms of welfare provision. Data were collected through clinical scoring and veterinary reports available on a total of 16 dairy farms (N=4.833 cows). The temperature ranges for winter and summer season in a given year were -4.2 to 7.2˚C and 19.3 to 27.4 ˚C respectively. Obtained welfare scores for injuries (41/100 points) and diseases (59/100 points) showed that cows in both seasons were more prone to injuries than to diseases. Estimated welfare condition for injuries was categorized as acceptable, and for diseases as enhanced, indicating no severe risk for welfare was determined. No significant differences for examined parameters were found between seasons with exception of somewhat higher lameness frequency in the winter season (39% vs. 32%). Frequencies of diseases were, in majority below alarm thresholds except for mastitis (2.6%) and conjunctivitis (6.0%) in the summer season.