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Assessment of sheep welfare using on-farm registrations and performance data

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

SM Stubsjøen ,
L Hektoen ,
PS Valle ,
AM Janczak  and
AJ Zanella
SM Stubsjøen*
Affiliation:
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, PO Box 8146 Dep, NO-0033 Oslo, Norway Animalia, Norwegian Meat and Poultry Research Centre, PO Box 396, Økern, NO-0513 Oslo, Norway
L Hektoen
Affiliation:
Animalia, Norwegian Meat and Poultry Research Centre, PO Box 396, Økern, NO-0513 Oslo, Norway
PS Valle
Affiliation:
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, PO Box 8146 Dep, NO-0033 Oslo, Norway Molde University College, PO Box 2110, NO-6402 Molde, Norway
AM Janczak
Affiliation:
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, PO Box 8146 Dep, NO-0033 Oslo, Norway
AJ Zanella
Affiliation:
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, PO Box 8146 Dep, NO-0033 Oslo, Norway The Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, PO Box 5003, NO-1432 Aas, Norway Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Sustainable Livestock Systems Group, Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), SAC Roslin Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9P6, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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Farm animal welfare is a societal concern, and the need exists for scientific protocols to assess welfare. This paper describes the development of a protocol to assess the welfare of sheep (Ovis aries) and its application in 36 farms in Norway. There were two parts to the protocol; the animal- and resource-based measurements obtained during farm visits, and the analysis of production data. Data collection took place during visits to 36 farms in the lambing season (April-May) in 2007 (n = 11) and 2008 (n = 25). A fear test was conducted, and ewes were scored on a scale from 0 to 3. Forty-one percent of the ewes tested had a fear score of 3, indicating the lowest level of fear. Mean (± SD) fear score across farms were 1.9 (± 0.5). Higher fearfulness was found to be associated with lower ewe body condition scores (BCS). Mean (± SD) BCS across farms was 2.6 (± 0.6). A relatively large proportion of the ewes had a BCS of 2 (41%), which may be associated with an increased risk of nutritional stress, disease and low productivity. Eight farms had more than 5% (range 5.4-24.4%) of lamb carcases categorised in the lowest conformation class, which may be an indication of a welfare problem. This study is the first step in the development and validation of a welfare assessment protocol for sheep, and further research is needed to assess the overall reliability of the protocol.

Keywords

animal-based measuresanimal welfareproductionresource-based measuressheepwelfare assessment protocol
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 20 , Issue 2 , May 2011 , pp. 239 - 251
Copyright
© 2011 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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