College of Veterinary Sciences

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://repository.mu.edu.et/handle/123456789/21

Browse

Filters

20231

Settings

Subject: search.filters.subject.dairy

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    ASSESSEMENT OF DAIRY COWS WELFARE IN SELECTED URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AREAS OF TIGRAY REGION, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA
    (Mekelle University, 2023-11-25) Alemu Gebrekurstos
    This study was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of the community on dairy cattle welfare in 47 purposively selected dairy farms of urban and peri-urban areas of Tigray region from March-to May, 2021. In this study, a doorto-door survey was conducted using semi-structured interview to collect primary data on various dairy cow welfare practices like feeding, housing and milking welfare keeping in mind the “Five Freedoms”. As a result, a total of 47 study participants from the different socio-demographic backgrounds were purposively selected and voluntarily filled out the semi structured questionnaire which was distributed to gather the required information from the respondents. In this tradition of the dairy cattle care, good welfare is seen largely as the absence of illness or injury and malnutrition. More recent concerns about dairy cattle welfare have focused on the pain and distress that the cattle might experience as a result of widely accepted management practices, and the possibility that the animals suffer as a result of being kept under apparently inadequate conditions. The findings show that 57.45 % (n=27) of the respondents had knowledge about animal welfare, acquired through the vet. Profession whereas 61.7% (n=29) of the respondents prefer to have free movement of animals within their premises. None of the farmers had heard of the term dairy cow welfare. However, farmers of 76.5% (n=36) of the dairy farm agreed that cows should have free access to feed and water. 4.26% (n=2) of respondents in this study did not receive formal training on animal welfare issues. It is believed that more can and should be done to ensure that a dairy cow has a life worth living. An attitude of critical dairy cattle welfare issues relates to the supply of trained, skilled dairy farmers and stockmen. In conclusion, in the urban and pre-urban areas of Tigray region the farms are imperative immediate remedial measures in order to improve the degree of cow‘s welfare