COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF WELFARE STATUS OF KENGURI SHEEP UNDER INTENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE SYSTEMS OF REARING
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Date
2022
Authors
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Publisher
KARNATAKA VETERINARY, ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, BIDAR - 585 401
Abstract
The present experiment was conducted with 20 intensive and 20 extensive Kenguri
sheep farms in Yadgir district of Karnataka. The welfare assessment as per AWIN (Animal
Welfare Indicators) welfare assessment protocol for sheep was done at two levels- i) First
level group (40minutes/herd) welfare indicators assessment revealed that, stereotypy
(abnormal behaviour), social isolation, mild heat stress, panting, fleece cleanliness (very wet,
filthy), fleece quality (fleece loss), faecal soiling (extensive soiling and dags), lameness
(severe), lamb survival (lamb born live and dead; losses to weaning; minimum ewes mated
and lambs reared) were significant at (P≤0.05) when compared between intensive and
extensive rearing systems. ii) Second level individual (5minutes/sheep) welfare indicators
assessment unveiled that, body condition score (emaciated, thin, good, fat), lesions to
anterior part (ears, eyes, face/muzzle, head/neck) and anterior myiasis, lesions to posterior
part (body, legs, teats) and posterior myiasis, anaemia and mastitis severity levels were
significant at (P≤0.05) when compared between intensive and extensive rearing systems.
The ethogram (basic behaviour patterns) was formed by observing the Kenguri sheep in the
herd for a total of 300 hours, dividing into 6 hours per day (preferably during cooler parts of
the day) observation. The results showed that, sheep exhibited 43 and 45 behavioural
patterns in intensive and extensive rearing systems respectively, out of total 47 behavioural
patterns. Veterinarians’ perceptions on welfare issues and other criteria were examined using
a structured schedule. The constraints of sheep farmers in the study area were analysed
consciously by using closed ended schedule through focused group discussion. The results
of the experiment indicated better welfare, health status, general management and other
practices of sheep under intensive system when compared to extensive system.
Key words: Kenguri sheep, Welfare assessment, Ethogram, Socio-economic profile,
Veterinarians’ Perception, Constraints of sheep rearing