On-farm welfare assessment in meat goat does raised in semi-intensive and extensive systems in semiarid regions of Ceará, Northeast, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to apply a protocol based on the Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) protocols for small ruminants in Brazilian Northeast farms to evaluate the welfare of meat goat, comparing animals kept on semi-intensive (S) and extensive (E) farms. Fifteen farms located in the Metropolitan Region of Quixadá and Quixeramobim, Ceará, Brazilian Northeast, were recruited. Assessments were performed at group and individual level. Significant differences between S and E farms was set at P<0.05 to all tests. At group level, there was a significant difference between groups, with more goats from E farms affected by heat stress and more animals from S farms presenting oblivion. Resource-based indicators, type of drinkers and access to shelter, differed significantly between S and E systems, with goats on S farms allocated in places with access to water more frequently during night period and protected from wind. Type of facility was more complex for animals on S farms (n=2) than on all E farms due to internal divisions, with S farms presenting feeders, drinking fountains, salt shakers, and slatted or cemented floor. At individual level, abscess and ocular discharge were more frequently observed on S farms and ears lesions were more frequent on E farms, probably due to distinct management of goats. Similarities between results showed that farmers in both production systems faced problems related to heat stress, lack of forage and health issues.

Feasibility and Reliability of the AWIN Welfare Assessment Protocol for Dairy Goats in Semi-extensive Farming Conditions

“…According to assessors B and C, the detection of severe lameness in large groups of goats moving together was not easy, but assessor A reported this as an optimal situation, as severely lame goats can easily be identified as they walk slower than the others. The absence of severely lame goats (and of overgrown claws) in our farms is in agreement with the results obtained in meat goats extensively raised in Brazil (18), suggesting a positive effect of pasture on the health of claws, as observed by de Morais (20). The beneficial effect of grazing for reducing lameness was observed also in cattle by several authors [e.g., (42,43)].…”

“…However, a comment is necessary for hair coat condition and abscesses. The average situation for both these indicators was good also in comparison with Italian and Portuguese intensive farms ( 14 , 31 ) and Brazilian meat farms ( 18 ). Nevertheless, in one farm a high prevalence of animals with poor hair coat condition was found (24.7%): this result is in line with intensive farms, but it is higher than the prevalence found in extensive meat goats in Brazil (12.12%) ( 18 ).…”

“…The average situation for both these indicators was good also in comparison with Italian and Portuguese intensive farms (14,31) and Brazilian meat farms (18). Nevertheless, in one farm a high prevalence of animals with poor hair coat condition was found (24.7%): this result is in line with intensive farms, but it is higher than the prevalence found in extensive meat goats in Brazil (12.12%) (18). It is important to underline that in our protocol the assessment of hair coat condition was performed on individual animals during milking and not as a group-level indicator with goats free to move in the pen as proposed by the AWIN protocol (17).…”

“…Research on the assessment of animal welfare in goats kept in semi-extensive and extensive systems is relatively new. An attempt to compare the application of the AWIN protocol in semi-intensive and extensive husbandry systems was carried out in Brazil on meat goat does ( 18 ). Since the AWIN welfare assessment protocol was developed for intensive dairy goat farms, in that study the authors only retained few indicators from the original protocol, added some from the AWIN welfare assessment protocol for sheep, and some indicators were partly modified and/or proposed ex novo .…”

“…Since the AWIN welfare assessment protocol was developed for intensive dairy goat farms, in that study the authors only retained few indicators from the original protocol, added some from the AWIN welfare assessment protocol for sheep, and some indicators were partly modified and/or proposed ex novo . Unfortunately, the research performed by Leite Oliveira et al ( 18 ) does not clarify the process that led to the selection and/or exclusion of some indicators from the goat protocol, nor if the indicators extrapolated from the sheep protocol were reliable also for meat goats. However, this study provides useful information about the feasibility of such protocol under extensive farming conditions in Brazil.…”