Evaluation of Mardin province ovine farms in terms of animal welfare

As a result of the increasing human population and the increase in the demand for food since the 19th century, with the transition from extensive animal husbandry to intensive stockbreeding methods, mistreatment of animals, slum shelter conditions, practices that cause pain and suffering to animals began to be criticized especially in European countries. The concept of animal welfare was born, which offers better conditions, the condition of appropriate treatment for the animal. The word welfare is used in our language to mean wealth, health and happiness. The word welfare, which is the English equivalent of welfare, is an English origin term that entered modern European laws. It is a well-known fact that animals reared in better conditions with methods suitable for their own species are more productive. The aim of this study is to investigate the compliance of small cattle farms with animal welfare criteria by using the protocol developed from the ANI 35 L (Animal Needs Index) system for the welfare assessment of small cattle. The study was carried out on 100 farms operating in the province of Mardin and registered in the livestock registration system, with 100 head or more of sheep and goats. By visiting the enterprises, data were collected regarding the housing conditions, the availability of structures and equipment, and the health of the animals. As a result of the study, it has been determined that the ANI 35 L system and its derivatives can be used to evaluate animal welfare in sheep and goat enterprises and to reveal the suitability of welfare criteria of sheep and goat enterprises. As a result of the study, it was determined that the ANI35 L protocol can be used to measure the welfare level of sheep and goats in order to determine the adequacy of animal welfare criteria in enterprises engaged in small livestock breeding in Mardin Province. Keywords: Sheep-goat, animal welfare, animal needs index (ANI 35 L)