Assessment of the welfare quality of sheep farming enterprises in Yüksekova district, Hakkâri province

This study aimed to evaluate the welfare quality of sheep farming operations using a protocol developed from the ANI 35 L (Animal Needs Index) system, which offers a scientific and objective approach to assessing the behavioral, physiological, and environmental conditions of animals. The research was conducted on 55 enterprises with 100 or more small ruminants located in various villages including Büyükçiftlik, Kadıköy, Adaklı, Kısıklı, İnanlı, Bağdaş, Çukurca, Beşbulak, Dedeler, Dağdibi, and Dağlıca in the Yüksekova district of Hakkari province, registered in the agricultural information system. The study concluded that the protocol developed from the ANI 35 L system could be effectively utilized to assess compliance of small ruminant enterprises with animal welfare criteria. Evaluations conducted in accordance with this protocol revealed that a majority of the enterprises met certain standards in terms of housing conditions, nutrition status, and healthcare services related to animal welfare criteria. However, significant deficiencies requiring improvement were identified in some enterprises. These findings indicate that while small ruminant farming enterprises in the region generally meet acceptable standards, there is potential for improvement in specific areas.