Evaluation of buffalo breeding enterprises in Yozgat province in terms of biosecurity and animal welfare

This study was completed by conducting face-to-face surveys, observations, and measurements in Yozgat city center and districts to reveal the current status of water buffalo farms in terms of biosecurity and animal welfare. The study was conducted with 728 female buffaloes in 71 farms in Yozgat province. In the study, a protocol developed from the ANI (Animal Needs Index) 35L and Welfare Quality® protocol system used in cattle was used to evaluate the conformity of the structures and equipment of water buffalo farms to animal welfare criteria, and the female animals in the farms were scored individually. In 29.6% of the farms, the body condition scores of the buffaloes were in the 1-3 range (poor), in 9.9%, they were in the 7-9 range (fat), and 60.6% had (average) body condition scores. The barns' cleanliness was 18.3% dirty, 69% moderate, and 12.6% clean. Similar proportions were seen in the cleanliness of floors, feeding areas, drinking water areas, resting areas, milking locations, and the equipment used. In the study, the rates of animals with the dirty udder, dirty hind leg, and dirty hind part were calculated as 47.66%, 48.94%, and 51.03% in enterprises with 5-10 animals, while these rates were calculated as 50.07%, 51.53% and 52.01% in enterprises with 11-20 animals and 37.52%, 43.83% and 43.24% in enterprises with more than 21 animals. In conclusion, the water buffalo farms in Yozgat province generally do not meet suitable welfare conditions according to the ANI (Animal Needs Index) 35L and Welfare Quality® assessment methods. Reasons for this include a lack of farmer education, the buffalo farms being small, closed and tied stalls, together with cattle breeding, and insufficient attention given to the nutrition and care conditions of the water buffaloes. 2024, x + 46 Pages Keywords: Water Buffalo, Biosecurity, Animal welfare, ANI 35L/2000, Welfare Quality® (2009) Protocol.