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Potential animal-centred indicators of dairy goat welfare

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

M Mazurek ,
M Marie  and
D Desor
M Mazurek
Affiliation:
Nancy-Université, URAFPA, ENSAIA, BP 172, 54505, Vandœuvre lès Nancy, France
M Marie*
Affiliation:
Nancy-Université, URAFPA, ENSAIA, BP 172, 54505, Vandœuvre lès Nancy, France
D Desor
Affiliation:
Nancy-Université, URAFPA, ENSAIA, BP 172, 54505, Vandœuvre lès Nancy, France
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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This paper presents five tests based on behavioural and other animal-centred observations concerning dairy goat welfare. An emotional reactivity test (n = 40) classified the animals into different groups according to their behaviour in response to fear-eliciting stimuli, and identified anxious animals. Movement parameters and behaviour, as well as quantitative (number of cries) and qualitative (pitch, intensity, length) sound parameters were recorded. A dominance test (n = 35) based on antagonistic reactions resulted in three hierarchical groups (subordinate, n = 9; intermediate, n = 6; and dominant, n = 20). A test performed in the milking parlour (n = 108) showed that the order of passage was strongly preserved and linked to limb pathology and dominance index. Finally, a lameness test (12.5% were lame) and a standing up test (8.5% had problems getting up) showed that these two parameters were highly correlated. After some simplifications, these tests could form a goat welfare evaluation method.

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviourdominancefeargoatindicators
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 16 , Issue 2: Special Issue: Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level , May 2007 , pp. 161 - 164
Copyright
© 2007 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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