Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Varamin-Pishva Branch, Islamic Azad University, Varamin, Iran
Abstract
Introduction:The welfare of domesticated animals raised in industrial environments using mechanical and semi-mechanical tools has always been one of the main concerns of livestock farmers, as attention to the welfare of these animals can lead to increased productivity and reduced injury to the animals.
Material and methods:The present research, considering the importance of the topic of welfare, has designed a model of cow welfare in industrial dairy farms based on a structural-interpretive model and using the fuzzy Delphi method.To this end, the factors affecting the welfare of cows were examined using library studies, and ultimately a final model was presented through the design of a fuzzy questionnaire. The statistical population of the research included experts and specialists in the fields of animal husbandry and industrial dairy farming in Pakdasht County, who were included in the study using a snowball sampling method. A total of 18 experts and specialists in the fields of animal husbandry and cattle breeding participated in the study as knowledgeable individuals in the care and maintenance of dairy cows. The main tool used for the research was a questionnaire developed by the researcher, which included a structured self-interaction matrix to conduct a survey among relevant elites and experts. The questionnaire consisted of two main sections: one included demographic characteristics related to the sample population, such as gender, age, education, work experience, and studies; the other contained a pairwise comparison table of factors affecting cow welfare in industrial dairy farms, where experts indicated the relationship between each component and other presented components using specific letters.The analysis of results was conducted using fuzzy methods, and finally, the nature of the variables was examined through MicMac analysis.
Results and discussin:The results indicated that among the internal factors, the health of the locomotor system had the least influence and the highest dependency, while heat stress and automatic milking systems had the least dependency and the highest influence. The design of the flooring in the stalls and corridors, as well as the design of the barns based on wind direction and sunlight exposure, exhibited the least dependency and the highest influence. Among internal factors, variables such as infectious diseases, gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders, heat stress, automatic milking systems, design, size and dimensions of the barn and stalls, standing in barns, animal density in stalls, flooring design and type in stalls and corridors, density of dairy cows, barn design based on wind direction and sunlight exposure, and control of radiant heating acted as independent variables while other factors played a role as dependent variables. Among internal factors; locomotor health was the most influential factor while heat stress and automatic milking systems were the most susceptible factors. Among environmental factors; feed bunk and water trough conditions were the most influential while design aspects such as flooring type in stalls and corridors, barn designs based on wind direction and sunlight exposure, along with radiant heating control were found to be the most susceptible factors.
Conclusion: Factors such as the health of loco motor organs, feeding and watering facilities, healthcare practices, and humidity were significant at initial levels, while factors such as heat stress, automatic milking systems, design and type of flooring in housing and corridors, hall design based on wind direction and sunlight exposure, and control of radiant heating were significant at later levels affecting the welfare of dairy cows. Attention to these factors could be effective in improving the breeding conditions for cows.
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