Effect of farm location on dairy farm housing welfare scores in Karnataka

This study was undertaken to compare the influence of farm location on dairy farm housing welfare scores in Karnataka, India. A total of 401 adult crossbred cattle in 60 dairy cattle farms, 30 from the peri-urban region of Bengaluru Rural district and 30 from rural region of Kolar district of Karnataka were considered for the present study. The mean scores of the welfare indicator ‘Housing type and space availability’, ‘Type & height of roof’ and ‘Type of floor’ in peri-urban and rural regions out of total score of 10, 3 and 2, was 5.17 ± 0.308 & 6.18 ± 0.394, 1.63 ± 0.102 & 1.68 ± 0.106 and 0.67 ± 0.073 & 0.73 ± 0.104, respectively. The mean scores of the welfare indicator ‘Microclimate protection measures’, ‘Feeding and watering space availability’ and ‘Milking system’ in peri-urban and rural regions, out of total score of 5, was 2.00 ± 0.166 & 1.47 ± 0.208, 3.77 ± 0.092 & 4.00 ± 0.048 and 2.40 ± 0.091 and 2.47 ± 0.093, respectively. The mean welfare score in peri-urban and rural regions, out of total score of 30, was 15.63 ± 0.398 and 16.53 ± 0.577, respectively. No significant difference in welfare score of housing and other facilities was observed in the dairy farms located in different regions.