Assessment of animal welfare in semi-intensive sheep farms using animal, resource, and management-based indicators

This thesis aimed to determine and analyse the animal welfare level in semi-intensive sheep farms operating in Burdur province during the Summer (2844 animals) and Winter (2693 animals) seasons, using animal-based, resource-based, and management-based indicators prepared on the basis of the AWIN sheep protocol. Among the individually assessed animal-based indicators, the rate of body condition scores within the ideal range (between 2-4) was found to be 99,89% in the summer and 99,85% in the winter. Lesions on the ear, eye, face/nose, head/neck, body, leg, and udder, as well as fleece quality, were observed to be good in both seasons. However, while the rates for fleece cleanliness (score 0 and 1: 79,84%) and faecal contamination (score 0 and 1: 84,87%) were at ideal levels in the summer, these rates dropped to 46,42% and 41,52%, respectively, in the winter. In the remote observation of abnormal behaviours, the rate of behaviours such as stereotypy, social isolation, and excessive scratching was found to be low, and the human-animal relationship was observed to be at a good level in the human approach test. Situations where there is a difference between the reporting of summer and winter period data in terms of wool and fecal cleaning, mastitis, heat stress (p<0.001), respiratory problems, lameness (p<0.01), head-neck lesions and body lesions (p<0.05). In terms of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA), generally positive results were obtained in both Summer and Winter assessments, being positive for PC1 (valence component) and at a medium level for PC2 (arousal component). Among the resource-based indicators, within the scope of housing characteristics, the average space, water trough length, and feed trough length per sheep were found to be 3,5 m², 4 cm, and 17,48 cm, respectively. In air quality measurements, the average ammonia (NH₃) levels were calculated as 0,33 ppm on pasture in the summer, 0,91 ppm in the shelter in the summer, and 2,84 ppm in the shelter in the winter. Similarly, the carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels were calculated as 434,17 ppm on pasture in the summer, 695,57 ppm in the shelter in the summer, and 1100,37 ppm in the shelter in the winter. Regarding management-based indicators, the average age of flock managers is 45,9 years, and the average number of ewes in the flock is 94,8. It was determined that none of the farms had a written health program and that castration was not practiced. According to the grazing programs results, 30 flocks go to pasture during the summer period: 9 of these flocks graze once a day and 21 flocks graze twice a day. In the Winter period, 16 flocks do not go to pasture at all, while 13 flocks graze once a day. While the flock managers' perception of animal welfare was generally positive, deficiencies were identified in biosecurity practices, especially in areas such as contact with different flocks, disinfection, and quarantine. This thesis will serve as a source of information for research on animal welfare assessment in sheep in Turkey.