Licitra Francesca, Perillo Laura, Antoci Francesco, Piccione Giuseppe, Giannetto Claudia, Salonia Rosario, Giudice Elisabetta, Monteverde Vincenzo, Cascone Giuseppe
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Via G.Marinuzzi, 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy.
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Animals (Basel). 2021 Nov 20;11(11):3321. doi: 10.3390/ani11113321.
The present study assessed dairy cow welfare through the application of the Italian National Animal Welfare Reference Center (CReNBA) checklist in 36 dairy farms located in Ragusa (Italy) subjected to two different management conditions, housing with free access to pasture (Group 1, farms = 17) and indoor housing (Group 2, farms = 19). Five areas of investigation were considered: Area A, "Farm management and personnel"; Area B, "Facilities and equipment"; Area C, "Animal-based measures"; Area D, "Inspection of microclimatic environmental conditions and alarm systems"; and Area E, "Biosecurity". Blood samples were collected by coccygeal venipuncture from all animals (4081 cows). The specific antibodies against subsp. paratuberculosis, , , and the were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) serological test. Group 1 (access to pasture) showed a lower value of percentage score recorded in Area A ( = 0.02) and E ( = 0.01) than Group 2 (indoor housing). (Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis - IBR - detection of gB antibodies/IBR-gB) blood concentrations were higher in the cows housed indoor versus those with access to pasture ( = 0.01). Farm management and personnel (score A) was correlated with the level of (τ = 0.3754) and bovine-herpesvirus-specific antibodies (IBR-gB) (τ = 0.4159). "Biosecurity" percentage score showed a significant correlation with (τ = -0.4621) in the cows with access to pasture and IBR-gB (τ = 0.3435) in the cows housed fully indoors. Group 2 showed a significantly reduced level of antibodies against . In conclusion, differences in the welfare assessment score were observed in the "Farm management and personnel" and "Biosecurity" between the two management conditions. It had an effect on the prevalence of herpesvirus, which occurred more in cattle with access to pasture. Therefore, an accurate application of the checklist could be an instrument to prevent and control the spread of infections in farms.
本研究通过应用意大利国家动物福利参考中心（CReNBA）的检查表，对位于意大利拉古萨的36个奶牛场的奶牛福利进行了评估。这些奶牛场处于两种不同的管理条件下，一种是可自由进入牧场的圈舍（第1组，17个农场），另一种是室内圈舍（第2组，19个农场）。研究考虑了五个调查领域：领域A，“农场管理与人员”；领域B，“设施与设备”；领域C，“基于动物的指标”；领域D，“微气候环境条件及警报系统检查”；以及领域E，“生物安全”。通过尾静脉穿刺从所有动物（4081头奶牛）采集血样。采用酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）血清学检测方法评估针对副结核亚种、、和的特异性抗体。第1组（可进入牧场）在领域A（=0.02）和领域E（=0.01）的百分比得分值低于第2组（室内圈舍）。（传染性牛鼻气管炎 - IBR - gB抗体检测/IBR - gB）血液浓度在室内饲养的奶牛中高于可进入牧场的奶牛（=0.01）。农场管理与人员（得分A）与的水平（τ = 0.3754）和牛疱疹病毒特异性抗体（IBR - gB）（τ = 0.4159）相关。“生物安全”百分比得分在可进入牧场的奶牛中与（τ = -0.4621）显著相关，在完全室内饲养的奶牛中与IBR - gB（τ = 0.3435）显著相关。第2组显示针对的抗体水平显著降低。总之，在两种管理条件下，“农场管理与人员”和“生物安全”方面的福利评估得分存在差异。这对疱疹病毒的流行率有影响，疱疹病毒在可进入牧场的牛群中出现得更多。因此，检查表的准确应用可能是预防和控制农场感染传播的一种手段。
