Iceberg Indicators for Sow and Piglet Welfare
Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
Standard
Iceberg Indicators for Sow and Piglet Welfare. / Friedrich, Lena; Krieter, Joachim; Kemper, Nicole; Czycholl, Irena.
I: Sustainability, Bind 12, Nr. 21, 8967, 11.2020.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Iceberg Indicators for Sow and Piglet Welfare
AU - Friedrich, Lena
AU - Krieter, Joachim
AU - Kemper, Nicole
AU - Czycholl, Irena
PY - 2020/11
Y1 - 2020/11
N2 - This study identifies iceberg indicators for welfare assessment in sows and piglets to enhance feasibility and sustainability of available protocols. Indicators of the Welfare Quality(R) protocol and of a German protocol were collected over 65 farm visits to 13 farms in Germany between September 2016 and April 2018. Data were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). A hierarchical component model was built (animal welfare = higher-order, Welfare Quality(R) principles = lower-order components). In sows, welfare was revealed to be most influenced by the principles good housing, good health and appropriate behaviour (path coefficients = 0.77, 0.86, 0.91). High coefficients of determination R-2 indicated a large amount of explained variance (good housing R-2 = 0.59, good health R-2 = 0.75, appropriate behaviour R-2 = 0.83). Stereotypies was the indicator most valuable to assess sow welfare. Additionally, the final model included the indicators panting, shoulder sores, metritis, mortality and an indicator assessing stereotypies in resting animals (indicator reliabilities 0.54-0.88). However, the model did not include the indicators lameness and body condition, which may be due to the farm sample. Welfare of piglets was most explained by the indicators carpal joint lesions, mortality, sneezing and undersized animals (indicator reliabilities 0.48-0.86).
AB - This study identifies iceberg indicators for welfare assessment in sows and piglets to enhance feasibility and sustainability of available protocols. Indicators of the Welfare Quality(R) protocol and of a German protocol were collected over 65 farm visits to 13 farms in Germany between September 2016 and April 2018. Data were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). A hierarchical component model was built (animal welfare = higher-order, Welfare Quality(R) principles = lower-order components). In sows, welfare was revealed to be most influenced by the principles good housing, good health and appropriate behaviour (path coefficients = 0.77, 0.86, 0.91). High coefficients of determination R-2 indicated a large amount of explained variance (good housing R-2 = 0.59, good health R-2 = 0.75, appropriate behaviour R-2 = 0.83). Stereotypies was the indicator most valuable to assess sow welfare. Additionally, the final model included the indicators panting, shoulder sores, metritis, mortality and an indicator assessing stereotypies in resting animals (indicator reliabilities 0.54-0.88). However, the model did not include the indicators lameness and body condition, which may be due to the farm sample. Welfare of piglets was most explained by the indicators carpal joint lesions, mortality, sneezing and undersized animals (indicator reliabilities 0.48-0.86).
KW - animal welfare
KW - hierarchical component model
KW - iceberg indicators
KW - pigs
KW - sustainability
KW - structural equation modelling
KW - ANIMAL-WELFARE
KW - ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL
KW - BEHAVIOR
KW - LESIONS
KW - ISSUES
KW - RESTRICTION
KW - RELIABILITY
KW - MORTALITY
KW - VALIDITY
KW - LAMENESS
U2 - 10.3390/su12218967
DO - 10.3390/su12218967
M3 - Journal article
VL - 12
JO - Sustainability
JF - Sustainability
SN - 2071-1050
IS - 21
M1 - 8967
ER -
ID: 328014971