Influence of farm size on dairy housing welfare scores in Karnataka

Abstract

This study was undertaken to compare the influence of farm size on dairy farm housing welfare scores in Karnataka, India. A total of 60 dairy farms of Karnataka were considered. The farms were grouped into small, medium and large as per the prevailing dairy cattle holding in the region. The mean scores of the welfare indicator ‘Housing type and space availability’, ‘Type & height of roof’ and ‘Type of floor’ in small, medium & large dairy farms out of total score of 10, 3 and 2, was 6.53 ± 0.414, 5.75 ± 0.479 & 4.75 ± 0.360; 1.53 ± 0.128, 1.60 ± 0.134 & 1.85 ± 0.109 and 0.53 ± 0.085, 0.68 ± 0.116 & 0.90 ± 0.112, respectively. The mean scores of the welfare indicator ‘Microclimate protection measures’, ‘Feeding and watering space availability’ and ‘Milking system’ in small, medium & large dairy farms, out of total score of 5, was 1.95 ± 0.246, 1.60 ± 0.285 & 1.65 ± 0.167; 3.70 ± 0.128, 3.95 ± 0.050 & 4.00 ± 0.073 and 2.10 ± 0.069, 2.35 ± 0.109 & 2.85 ± 0.082, respectively. The mean housing component welfare score of small, medium and large dairy farms, out of total score of 30, was 16.33 ± 0.671, 15.93 ± 0.719 and 16.00 ± 0.429, respectively; with no significant differences between groups. There were no significant differences in welfare scores of small, medium and large dairy farms of Karnataka, as the significant differences among the various sub-components of the welfare score cancelled each other out in the overall score.