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Veterinary Sciences
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Impact of Housing Environment on Health and Welfare of Farm...
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Impact of Housing Environment on Health and Welfare of Farm Animals

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Internal Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2022) | Viewed by 4734

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sonja Schmucker

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Interests: animal immunology; neuro-endocrine-immune interaction; immunocompetence of livestock; immune rhythms; animal welfare; animal behavior; stereotypies; characterization of stressors in animal husbandry
Dr. Heidi Arndt

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Interests: animal welfare; animal behaviour; animal cognition; animal emotions; animal husbandry; livestock production and management; veterinary herd health advisory; dairy farming
Dr. Thorben Schilling

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Interests: livestock infectiology; environmental and animal hygiene; one health; zoonotic diseases; antibiotic resistance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Farm animals are subject to variable housing conditions and management practices, which can affect their immunocompetence, pathogen exposure, metabolic health, and well-being. The refinement and adaptation of husbandry systems thus might contribute to reduced disease susceptibility, reduced need for medicines such as antibiotics, and improved health, welfare, and also performance within livestock species. The Special Issue “Impact of Housing Environment on Health and Welfare of Farm animals” intends to collect scientific research covering a broad range of topics to highlight the various management factors influencing the health status of farm animals, and to characterize potential targets for the improvement of housing conditions.

All manuscript forms (articles, reviews, brief reports, etc.) are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Influence of social and physical stressors on immunocompetence, immunity, health, metabolic performance, and well-being;
  • Influence of housing conditions and management practices on pathogen load and transmission;
  • Assessment and validation of indicators and reference values of animal health and welfare;
  • Benchmarking of welfare scoring systems.

Investigations may cover housing conditions such as group size, group stability, provision of enrichment material, temperature, light conditions, space provision, and outdoor access. Studies on management interventions such as vaccination strategies, feeding regimes, or farrowing management, or those discussing behavioral parameters are also welcome.

Dr. Sonja Schmucker
Dr. Heidi Arndt
Dr. Thorben Schilling
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • housing conditions
  • animal husbandry
  • animal health
  • animal welfare
  • immune system
  • infections
  • pathogen load
  • immunocompetence
  • livestock management
  • stressors

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 342 KiB  
Article
Effects of Housing and Management Factors on Selected Indicators of the Welfare Quality® Protocol in Loose-Housed Dairy Cows
by Daniel Gieseke, Christian Lambertz and Matthias Gauly
Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(7), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9070353 - 13 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2581
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 [...] Read more.
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. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Housing Environment on Health and Welfare of Farm Animals)
11 pages, 1195 KiB  
Article
Feed Space Allowance and Perch Design Criteria for Broiler Breeders Determined by Biometric Data
by Angela Gabriela Brandes, Birgit Spindler, Mona Franziska Giersberg and Nicole Kemper
Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(7), 350; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9070350 - 11 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1706
Abstract
The equipment used in broiler breeder houses is an important factor in allowing the expression of the various behaviours of the animals, and thus realizing high welfare standards. Presently, detailed requirements for the equipment in broiler breeder houses are not specified in Germany, [...] Read more.
The equipment used in broiler breeder houses is an important factor in allowing the expression of the various behaviours of the animals, and thus realizing high welfare standards. Presently, detailed requirements for the equipment in broiler breeder houses are not specified in Germany, especially feed space and perch design allowance. One reason is that basic biometric data on broiler breeders are lacking. To close this gap, a pilot study was conducted, and birds’ width, weight, and feet were measured. Broiler breeders at 22 weeks of age (50 female and 17 male) were weighed and photographed digitally, and their body widths were calculated from the photographs. Female broiler breeders weighed 2791.80 ± 334.99 g on average and showed a body width of 20.63 ± 1.88 cm. For males, a mean of 3615.88 ± 432.46 g was measured with a body width of 21.94 ± 2.32 cm. Our examinations revealed that a trough side length of 21.00 cm per hen and 22.00 cm per cock must be provided to ensure that all broiler breeders have equal access to feed. The same dimensions should be planned as the perch length for each animal. Measurements of broiler breeders’ feet (506 female and 150 male Cobb 500) were performed at 60 weeks of age. The length of each toe and the width and length of the foot pad of both sexes were photographed and measured digitally. Female broiler breeders’ feet showed an average length of 10.14 cm, and male birds showed a length of 12.05 cm. Based on recommendations for the perch design for laying hens, round and oval perches for broiler breeders should have a circumference of at least 11.30 cm (female) or 13.40 cm (male). For angular perches, the upper contact area should have a width of 2.80 cm (female) or 3.40 cm (male). The obtained biometric data could be a useful basis for the development of legal requirements for broiler breeders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Housing Environment on Health and Welfare of Farm Animals)
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