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Publication
Aplicação do protocolo AWIN em explorações familiares de pequenos ruminantes
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| 4 MB | Adobe PDF |
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Ao longo das últimas décadas tem havido um interesse crescente por parte da comunidade científica e
pelos próprios produtores na aplicação de métodos e práticas de produção que visam melhorar o bemestar
animal, principalmente em explorações intensivas. Mais recentemente, e por imposição da
legislação europeia, certos parâmetros de bem-estar são agora formalmente aplicados em explorações
comerciais, sendo que na sua maioria a sua avaliação se baseia nos recursos e maneio. Neste
contexto, e a fim de colmatar uma falta de avaliação baseada nos animais, surgiram os protocolos do
Welfare Quality® e mais recentemente os protocolos AWIN – Animal Welfare Indicators que visam
desenvolver e disseminar indicadores aplicáveis internacionalmente em explorações de produção
animal. Os protocolos AWIN estão desenhados para várias espécies, entre elas cabras de leite em
regime intensivo. No entanto, tanto em Portugal como em vários países do sul da Europa, é ainda muito
comum encontrar explorações de cabras de leite em regime de produção do tipo familiar, com número
reduzido de cabeças e um modo de produção próprio não classificável como intensivo ou extensivo. A
avaliação do bem-estar nestas explorações é relevante, não só porque muitas vezes se encontra
comprometido por ignorância e falta de acesso a informação pelo proprietário, mas também porque
este tipo de explorações têm tendência a manter-se num futuro próximo pelos incentivos monetários à
produção de géneros de Denominação de Origem Protegida e de Indicação Geográfica Protegida, e
pelo aumento dos apoios da nova Política Agrícola Comum (PAC). Este estudo tem então como
objectivos: testar a aplicabilidade do protocolo AWIN para o bem-estar de caprinos de leite em microexplorações
do tipo familiar; propor eventuais alterações ao seu formato; e de uma forma geral avaliar
o bem-estar destes animais e sugerir boas práticas de maneio.
41 explorações foram avaliadas seguindo o protocolo AWIN modificado, usando indicadores baseados
nos animais, no maneio, nos recursos e relação humano/animal e completado com uma avaliação
qualitativa do comportamento de grupo. Os dados foram tratados estatisticamente, e os resultados
obtidos mostram que regra geral as cabras usufruem de níveis de bem-estar elevados, excepto
relativamente a algumas práticas de maneio, como o corte de unhas, nutrição adequada e mudança de
cama, sugerindo que alguma formação a nível de bem-estar seria benéfica para os tratadores e
consequentemente para os animais. O protocolo utilizado é de aplicação rápida, simples e barata e
satisfaz os critérios de validade, fiabilidade e viabilidade necessários para ter rigor científico e ser
facilmente usado no tipo de explorações em estudo. A sua exequibilidade e aplicabilidade sugere que
pode ser utilizado como base regulamentar para a implementação dos parâmetros mínimos e de
certificação de bem-estar animal, num tipo de exploração que embora muitas vezes menosprezado, é
ainda muito prevalente em Portugal e noutros países europeus.
Over the last few decades there has been a growing interest from the scientific community and the producers themselves in the application of production methods and practices that envisage to improve animal welfare, mainly in intensive farming. More recently, and by imposition of european legislation, certain welfare parameters are now formaly applied in comercial farms, its assessment being mostly resource and management-based. In this context, and in order to remedy a lack of an animal based assessment, the Welfare Quality® protocols and more recently the AWIN - Animal Welfare Indicators protocols were created, aimed at developing and disseminating internationally applicable indicators in livestock farms. The AWIN protocols have been designed for various species, including dairy goats kept in intensive conditions. However, both in Portugal and in several Southern European countries, it is still very common to find dairy goat farms in a family-type production system, with reduced number of heads and a production system not classified as intensive or extensive. The welfare assessment in these farms is relevant, not only because it is often compromised by ignorance and lack of access to information by the owner, but also due to monetary incentives to the production of Protected Designation of Origin produce and Protected Geographical Indication, and the increased support of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) these farms have a tendency to prevail in the near future. This study therefore has the following objectives: to test the applicability of the AWIN protocol for the welfare of dairy goats in micro farms of family type; to propose any changes to its format; and in a general way to evaluate the welfare of the animals and suggest good husbandry practices. 41 farms have been assessed with the modified AWIN protocol, using animal, management and resource-based indicators, and human / animal relationships, and complemented with a qualitative assessment of group behavior. Data were statistically analysed, and the results show that overall the goats enjoy high welfare levels, except for some cases of poor management practices, such as claw trimming, appropriate nutrition and bedding, suggesting that a level of husbandry training would be beneficial for the stockman and consequently for the animals. The protocol used is of fast, simple and inexpensive application and meets the criteria of validity, reliability and feasibility necessary to have scientific rigor and to be easily used in this type of farm. Its feasibility and applicability suggests it may be used as a basis for regulating the implementation of minimum welfare standards and certification, in a farming system that although often overlooked, is still very prevalent in Portugal and other European countries.
Over the last few decades there has been a growing interest from the scientific community and the producers themselves in the application of production methods and practices that envisage to improve animal welfare, mainly in intensive farming. More recently, and by imposition of european legislation, certain welfare parameters are now formaly applied in comercial farms, its assessment being mostly resource and management-based. In this context, and in order to remedy a lack of an animal based assessment, the Welfare Quality® protocols and more recently the AWIN - Animal Welfare Indicators protocols were created, aimed at developing and disseminating internationally applicable indicators in livestock farms. The AWIN protocols have been designed for various species, including dairy goats kept in intensive conditions. However, both in Portugal and in several Southern European countries, it is still very common to find dairy goat farms in a family-type production system, with reduced number of heads and a production system not classified as intensive or extensive. The welfare assessment in these farms is relevant, not only because it is often compromised by ignorance and lack of access to information by the owner, but also due to monetary incentives to the production of Protected Designation of Origin produce and Protected Geographical Indication, and the increased support of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) these farms have a tendency to prevail in the near future. This study therefore has the following objectives: to test the applicability of the AWIN protocol for the welfare of dairy goats in micro farms of family type; to propose any changes to its format; and in a general way to evaluate the welfare of the animals and suggest good husbandry practices. 41 farms have been assessed with the modified AWIN protocol, using animal, management and resource-based indicators, and human / animal relationships, and complemented with a qualitative assessment of group behavior. Data were statistically analysed, and the results show that overall the goats enjoy high welfare levels, except for some cases of poor management practices, such as claw trimming, appropriate nutrition and bedding, suggesting that a level of husbandry training would be beneficial for the stockman and consequently for the animals. The protocol used is of fast, simple and inexpensive application and meets the criteria of validity, reliability and feasibility necessary to have scientific rigor and to be easily used in this type of farm. Its feasibility and applicability suggests it may be used as a basis for regulating the implementation of minimum welfare standards and certification, in a farming system that although often overlooked, is still very prevalent in Portugal and other European countries.
Description
Keywords
Caprinos Explorações familiares Indicadores de bem-estar animal Protocolo de bem-estar