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Sammanfattning

The Swedish official animal welfare control (OC) mainly uses resource-based, and a few animal-based measures, that are neither quantified nor qualified. In Paper I, OC was compared with two other protocols using mainly animal-based measures: Ask the Cow (AC) and Welfare Quality (WQ). The data were collected from 41 farms (mean herd size 65 cows, range 12-268). Totally, in all herds, the OC had only 55 remarks out of 1,763 possible. If farms were ranked (worst to best) within OC, AC and WQ, respectively, OC showed no or a moderate correlation (r = 0.40, P = 0.009) to observations in WQ and AC, respectively. For example, dirtiness was reported only on two farms in OC while dirtiness was reported at all herds in WQ. In AC, on average, 18% of the animals were reported dirty. Paper II aimed to study to what extent body condition and skin soiling in cattle are rated different depending on the profession, education and experience. Swedish animal professionals and undergraduate students in animal science (n = 569) rated 6 to 40 photos concerning animal body condition, and skin soiling. Students rated the degree of soiling more seriously and recommended stricter corrective actions. In Paper III, thermal comfort was measured by using two handheld skin temperature sensors. Skin temperatures in 21 dairy cows of two breeds were recorded monthly for one year and compared to indoor and rectal temperatures. Skin temperatures did not correlate well with rectal temperature but correlated strongly with indoor temperature and could be a quick monitoring tool. In paper IV, assessment of hydration status was measured by variations in milk osmolality within and between days, within individual cows, between two breeds and over season and lactation stages as well as the correlation to ambient temperature and relative humidity. There were significant variations in milk osmolality, and if osmolality could be regularly monitored, it could be a tool to detect dehydration. The answer of the thesis aim is yes, the official animal welfare control can be improved by using more and quantified animal-based parameters.

Nyckelord

animal-based measures; animal welfare assessment; animal welfare control; body condition; cleanliness; dairy cattle; dehydration; milk osmolality; resource-based measures; skin soiling; thermal comfort

Publicerad i

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae
2025, nummer: 2025:49
Utgivare: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

SLU författare

UKÄ forskningsämne

Husdjursvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.54612/a.48bfuob51l
  • ISBN: 978-91-8046-484-0
  • eISBN: 978-91-8046-534-2

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132989