Evaluation of animal welfare with awin welfare protocol in some goat farms under extensive conditions in Burdur province

This study aimed to evaluate for the first time the welfare of some goat farms in Burdur province, which is known as the "Buck Region" of Turkey, raised under extensive conditions according to the AWIN (animal welfare indicators) protocol. Within the scope of the study, data were obtained from 20 goat farms raised under extensive conditions in Burdur province by visiting each farm twice (in summer and winter seasons) between October 2022 and September 2023. In each farm visit, the AWIN protocol was evaluated in 2 stages: First-degree welfare assessment (group-level assessment of the herd) and Second-degree welfare assessment (individual-level assessment of goats). At the end of these evaluations, a survey was applied to the shepherd for management-related indicators. In addition, the herds were also assessed once in the pasture. In the winter period (2855 goats) and summer period (2779 goats) group evaluation of the farms, there were no goats that lined up for feeding and drinking, goats that showed severe lameness and goats with inappropriate horns. When the number of goats with poor hair condition was evaluated, it was determined as 2,73% and 0,75% in the winter and summer evaluations, respectively. Animals with poor hair condition were found in 11 of the 20 enterprises. According to the individual welfare evaluation, when the findings of the winter period (1089 goats) and summer period (1044 goats) of the farms were examined, the good/ideal body condition score was found as 98,4% and 95,9%, respectively. The rate of overgrown nails detected in the herds was determined as 0,5% and 0% in the winter and summer evaluations, respectively. According to the general evaluation survey data depending on the source, 20 farms had single-compartment feeding areas and the bedding material consisted of soil. It was determined that goats in 20 farms went to the outdoor pasture every day of the year for grazing in flocks and stayed in the pasture for 9,6 hours per day. When the QBA winter and summer assessments of the farms were examined, it was determined that they had positive and high intensity rates in terms of Component 1 (associated with positive emotional states or active behavioral characteristics) and Component 2 (expressing the intensity of the emotional state). In this study, for the first time in Turkey, goats raised under extensive conditions were evaluated according to the AWIN welfare application protocol on farm environments. The data obtained will guide future scientific studies for different breeding systems (under pasture conditions), yield characteristics (meat breeds) and different age groups (kids-bucks).