A method of assessing welfare in loose housed dairy cows at farm level, focusing on animal observations

The aim of the present paper is to describe the framework of a new method for assessing dairy cows' welfare at farm level. In contrast with TGIs, the method is based on observations of animals and leads to several scores according to the needs of the animals. We started with five general needs. These were the five freedoms: freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury or disease: freedom to express normal behaviour; and freedom from fear and distress. These were further subdivided into 16 basic needs. A list of the 49 indices, or welfare-indicators, most commonly measured in animals (behaviours, injuries etc.) was produced and the patterns each index can have were described. Each pattern was rated on a value-scale with regard to any need. On this basis frequencies within a herd reflecting a very low, low, high or very high level of welfare were determined, allowing us to attribute a score to a given herd for any pattern. We then proposed to pool the scores obtained by a herd for all patterns of a given index into a single score for that index. To this end. we defined logical rules that limited compensation between scores. Step by step, the information can be pooled to obtain a single score for indices that are closely related, for basic needs, and finally for each of the five freedoms. Ways to validate such a method are discussed. The method can be used in a survey to detect relations between environmental conditions and animal welfare. It can also be used in connection with dairy farm labelling.