Developing effective training and certification schemes for improving on-farm dairy cattle welfare

Publication date: 22/02/2021
Extent: 18 pages

Contributions by: Antoni Dalmau and Antonio Velarde, IRTA, Spain

Chapter synopsis: This chapter discusses developing effective training and certification schemes for improving on-farm dairy cattle welfare. It begins by reviewing the selection of measures that can be used for assessing animal welfare, focusing firstly on animal-based measures, then moves on to review resource and management based measures. The chapter also discusses the four welfare quality principles – feeding, housing, health and behaviour – and how dairy cattle welfare can be affected by the quality these four principles. Training of assessors is also discussed, before a summary of why using a combination of resource-based, management-based and animal-based measures is the best way to ensure good welfare in animals such as dairy cattle.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2020.0084.07