Effects of Housing and Management Factors on Selected Indicators of the Welfare Quality(®) Protocol in Loose-Housed Dairy Cows

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Housing conditions and management practices affect animal welfare levels in livestock production. The objective of this study was to investigate potential effects of housing and management factors on animal welfare in dairy cattle by comparing different farms with each other in a benchmarking approach. For this purpose, 63 dairy cattle farms in Northern Germany were assessed using an animal welfare indicator system (Welfare Quality(®) protocol). Farms were categorized into a high and a low welfare group for each of the selected animal welfare indicators (body condition score, integument alterations, lameness, milk somatic cell count, and social behaviour). Both groups were compared regarding housing conditions and management practices in a statistical analysis. Clear differences between the groups were found for lameness concerning the routine use of foot-baths, milk somatic cell count concerning the milking frequency, and social behaviour concerning the cow-to-stall ratio. Comparing farms with high and low animal welfare status regarding housing and management factors provide useful information for the practice. Dairy cattle farmers could use these findings to improve animal welfare on their farms. ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of housing and management factors on animal welfare indicators in dairy cows using a benchmarking approach. In total, 63 conventional dairy cattle farms with zero-grazing in Northern Germany were assessed using selected animal welfare indicators (body condition score, integument alterations, lameness, milk somatic cell count, and social behaviour) of the Welfare Quality(®) protocol. Additionally, housing characteristics such as designs of barns, cubicles, and floors were documented during farm visits and farmers were interviewed concerning their common management routines. Farms were categorized into a high welfare or low welfare group by calculating upper and lower tertiles for each of the animal welfare indicators separately. Both groups were compared regarding housing conditions and management practices using univariable and multivariable logistic regressions. Several associations between housing and management factors and animal welfare indicators were demonstrated in univariable analysis (p < 0.20). Significant effects within multivariable logistic regression analysis were determined for lameness (routine use of foot-baths), milk somatic cell count (milking frequency) and social behaviour (cow-to-stall ratio) (p < 0.05). Comparing farms with higher and lower animal welfare status can provide useful information about effective options to improve animal welfare.