WELFARE STATUS OF DAIRY CATTLE UNDER EXTENSIVE AND INTENSIVE FARMING SYSTEM IN HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

Abstract

The dairy sector is one of the emerging industries in Sri Lanka, where animal welfare is poorly addressed by the scientific community.  The well-being of dairy cattle housed under two different management practices (intensive and extensive farming) in the Hambantota district, Sri Lanka was compared for five freedom (5F) concept and behavioral assessment using semi-structured and pre-tested questionnaires. Altogether 50 dairy cattle were observed in the extensive and intensive management practices for 30 days continuously.  Collected data were analyzed by SPSS using descriptive studies and student’s T-test at p=0.05.  The average of five freedom (5F) factors for the extensive management system was 37.07% which reflects “Good” and for the intensive was 44.86%, and welfare status is “Normal”. The welfare status of both management systems was significantly different (p<0.05). Cattle exhibit a diverse range of behaviors in both management systems with significant differences (p<0.05), except resting, licking, rumination and execration; the rest of the behaviors were in the highest mean rank in the intensive management system. There is no significant difference (p>0.05) between intensive and extensive management systems based on climatological parameters (Temperature, Relative humidity and Thermal heat index). Based on the 5F concept extensive better than intensive management systems in the dairy industry in the Hambantota district of Sri Lanka. This study in animal ethogram will help to improve precision farming techniques, sensor technology, and data analytics that have enabled real-time monitoring of animal health, behavior, and environmental conditions in the future in Sri Lanka.