Animal Welfare Assessment in Sows and Piglets—Introduction of a New German Protocol for Farm’s Self-Inspection and of New Animal-Based Indicators for Piglets

Agriculture

Nicole Kemper¹  Joachim Krieter²  Irena Czycholl²  Lena Friedrich² 

[1] Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of VeterinaryMedicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany;Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian‐Albrechts‐University, Olshausenstr. 40,24098 Kiel, Germany;

关键词: animal welfare assessment;    piglets;    pen level;    sows;    Welfare Quality®;   

DOI  :  10.3390/agriculture10110506

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

We compare the Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft e.V. (KTBL)
protocol, a German protocol for sows and piglets developed for farm’s self‐inspection, to the
Welfare Quality® protocol for sows and piglets (WQ). The KTBL protocol introduces new indicators
for piglets to be assessed at pen level (face lesions, carpal joint lesions, undersized animals). The
reliability of their assessment at pen level was analysed by comparison to assessments at individual
level. Both protocols were applied by one observer in 65 farm visits. The protocols are highly similar,
although the composition varies (WQ protocol: focus on animal‐based, KTBL protocol: focus on
management‐based indicators). Consequently, the WQ protocol detected more welfare issues (e.g.,
welfare issues related to appropriate behaviour: 62.9% (WQ) vs. 21.0% (KTBL protocol)). The
comparison between pen and individual level of piglets’ indicators was determined using
Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (RS), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and limits of
agreement (LoA). Carpal joint lesions and undersized animals (RS 0.73/0.80 ICC 0.55/0.57 LoA −0.12
to 0.03/−0.01 to 0.01) are reliably assessed at pen level but face lesions (RS 0.19 ICC 0.18 LoA −0.42
to 0.03) are not. Concluding, we present advantages and disadvantages of the KTBL protocol and
introduce indicators for piglets which may enhance existing protocols.animal welfare assessment; piglets; pen level; sows; Welfare Quality®

【 授权许可】

Unknown