title: On-FarmWelfare Assessment Protocol for Adult Dairy Goats in Intensive Production Systems.
abstract: Within the European AWIN project, a protocol for assessing dairy goats' welfareon the farm was developed. Starting from a literature review, a prototype includinganimal-based indicators covering four welfare principles and 12 welfare criteria was set up.The prototype was tested in 60 farms for validity, reliability, and feasibility. After testing theprototype, a two-level assessment protocol was proposed in order to increase acceptabilityamong stakeholders. The first level offers a more general overview of the welfare status,based on group assessment of a few indicators (e.g., hair coat condition, latency to thefirst contact test, severe lameness, Qualitative Behavior Assessment), with no or minimalhandling of goats and short assessment time required. The second level starts if welfareAnimals 2015, 5 935problems are encountered in the first level and adds a comprehensive and detailed individualevaluation (e.g., Body Condition Score, udder asymmetry, overgrown claws), supported byan effective sampling strategy. The assessment can be carried out using the AWIN Goatapp. The app results in a clear visual output, which provides positive feedback on welfareconditions in comparison with a benchmark of a reference population. The protocol maybe a valuable tool for both veterinarians and technicians and a self-assessment instrumentfor farmers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health (DIVET), Università degli Studi di Milano,Via G. Celoria, Milan 20133, Italy. monica.battini@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battini
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica-Pólo Universitário Alto da Ajuda, Lisbon 1300-477, Portugal. stilwell@fmv.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stilwell
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica-Pólo Universitário Alto da Ajuda, Lisbon 1300-477, Portugal. ana.lopesvieira@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health (DIVET), Università degli Studi di Milano,Via G. Celoria, Milan 20133, Italy. sara.barbieri@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health (DIVET), Università degli Studi di Milano,Via G. Celoria, Milan 20133, Italy. elisabetta.canali@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Canali
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health (DIVET), Università degli Studi di Milano,Via G. Celoria, Milan 20133, Italy. silvana.mattiello@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mattiello
keywords: animal welfare; animal-based indicator; dairy goat; on-farm welfare assessment