The current state of animal welfare and its pratices in beef cattle business of elaziğ province

This research was conducted to determine knowledge, opinion, perceptions and attitudes of breeders and producers of Elazig-related settlements where animal breeding have carried out intensively, to analyze the current situation, to offer solutions by identifying problems in place on the subject of stock, shelters, animal-human interaction, bio-security and animal welfare and its application. The material of the study is consisted of a survey conducted over approximately 189 breeders operating in 38 Elazig-related settlement units where animal breeding has carried out intensively i.e. Karakoçan, Kovancılar and central-dependent neighborhoods and villages. The survey questionnaires include total of 42 items with 3 factors to determine attitude of participants about the factors affecting animal welfare. As a result, it has been determined that participants' level of education is high, they are open to information and innovation and they are willing to participate in training and meetings to increase their knowledge. In particular, although there are some promising practices in animal welfare and bio-safety matters are observed, they are not sufficient and it is thought that this case adversely affects animal welfare. Moreover, in the study of animal welfare and human-animal interaction matters, it is concluded that cognitive abilities, behavior and emotional state of the participants have positive effects on their attitudes towards animals and animal welfare. It is also inferred that directing breeders through training programs and make regulations to encourage them in the subject of animal welfare, human-animal interaction and bio-safety would yield the development in the animal welfare business and breeding sector by the increase in farmers' productivity and profit level.