What parameter we can use to assess the feeding welfare of goats besides Body condition scoring, Rumen fill scoring in migratory or pastoral production
My research was on the quail Unfortunately I did not have research on goats
I used quail birds and traditional mating methods like selection and cross breed such as cross generation (long or short term )
I used the AWIN welfare assesment protocol for goat. The welfare indicators for the "good feeding" are: BCS, hair coat condition, queuing at feeding and queuing at drinking.
Giorgia Granata Thanqu for your response. But all AWIN indicators cant be used for animal assessment in extensive system as they rear animals on pasture. So,queuing at feeding and drinking may not be suitable indicators for assessing the welfare of animals reared under extensive system. We can use BCS and hair coat condition to assess their feeding.
Observe the amount of time grazing, and the the amount of time spent resting and cudding.
Observe what type of plants that they are choosing to eat.
You can use a tape measure on individual marker goats and measure them at intervals.
Observation is the long time test system used by sheep farmers everywhere and it doesn't involve handling any animals. Animals who spend nearly all their time grazing are short of food. Animals who spend time rest and cudding have plenty of food. This can be done at particular times of the day.
Roger Mason Thank you sir for your valuable input. Behavior no doubt can help in interpreting good feeding in animals reared on pasture. But i want to know which indicators we can use to meet good welfare principle of Welfare Quality project. Indicators should be valid, reliable and feasible. Recording the grazing time is not feasible welfare indicator for animals in extensive system as it is time consuming.
No, but it is very visible, and easily demonstrated, how you may just to record it or quantify is is more problematic. It is the way that most farmers or pastoralists assess the amount, or quality of food available.
Roger Mason Yes sir the real problem is with recording. However, we can do scan sampling of 10-20 minutes per farm/flock for assessing these behaviors. Also these days Qualitative Behavioral Assessment (QBA) is common for welfare assessment.
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