Abstract:
In Austria animal welfare is assessed by an index system, the TGI 35 L Animal Needs Index, that is broadly accepted and in wide practical use. Its main field of application is the certification of animal products but it can also be used as a guide for the farmer to detect faults in the housing system and as an advisory tool by agricultural advisory agencies. The TGI 35 L is also included in animal welfare legislation. Since this assessment of animal welfare has major consequences, it is important to investigate the quality of assessment. In a current research project the Institute of Agricultural, Environmental and Energy Engineering is examining the precision of TGI assessments in housing systems for dairy cattle, calves, fattening pigs and laying hens. Furthermore, the validity of TGI assessments is being checked by correlating the TGI score with animal health and behavioural parameters. The investigations are also focusing on the development of further parameters for the assessment section under'Stockmanship' of the index to improve the assessment of human-animal relationship on farms. So far, precision of animal welfare assessments has been investigated in 127 houses for dairy cattle, calves, fattening pigs and laying hens in Austria. These TGI assessments gave a repeatability between persons over a range of 56 to 96% and a repeatability within persons over a range of 82 to 96%. The precision of assessment differed between the various sections of the assessment. The results of our studies show that precision of the assessment can be further improved as follows: 1) clarifying the descriptions of some of the criteria that have to be assessed, 2) intensive theoretical and practical training of the assessors, 3) regular exchange of experience between the assessors, and 4) improved co-operation and exchange of experience between the different controlling agencies.
