Assessing Animal Welfare Through Management, Productive and Reproductive Performances and Health Care in a Large Dairy Herd in the North of Tunisia

The objective of this study was to evaluate animal welfare in a large dairy herd in the north of Tunisia. Housing conditions, reproductive and productive performances and health care were studied to assess comfort of Holstein cows in the Complexe Agro-Industriel Ghzala Mateur (CAIGM). Data were collected on the housing system, reproduction (from 2000-2006), milk production (33,829 test-day records from 2004-2006) and culling and death incidence. Barns were found not to meet the standards for cows comfort. There was a degradation of housing conditions because sheds were implemented in low ground, barns concrete coating was deteriorating, litter was in bad shape and there was a persistent draught. Reproductive and productive performances and health indicators reflected also discomfort of cows. In fact, milk production level was low. Mean milk yield was 5150 kg (standard deviation = 1694 kg) recorded over a 320.3 days (standard deviation = 82 days) lactation period. Mean somatic cell count was 634.72 103 C mL-1 (standard deviation = 1598 C mL-1), indicating probably a high mastitis infection rate. Results on reproduction showed limited fecundity and fertility of cows. Mean calving interval and insemination per conception were 445 days (standard deviation = 97 days) and 2.43 (1.6), respectively. Infertility, dystocia, post-partum calving, leg and metabolic disorders and lung diseases were the main causes of culling and death of cows. Animal welfare may be improved by continuous maintenance of barns and the improvement of housing conditions in the CAIGM in order to allow cows to perform up to their potential.