The aim of this work was to evaluate the possibility of introducing in Italy a system for assessing animal welfare at farm level. For this purpose a questionnaire on the environmental characteristics of dairy farms and the reactions of cattle was prepared and submitted to 220 dairy farms. The data were obtained from interviews with farmers and from veterinarians' direct observations of the animals' reactions and farm structures. Preliminary data show that on the majority of the farms the animals were calm in the presence of the stockman and had no negative reactions relating to the presence of unfamiliar man. However, it is interesting to note the rapid turnover of milking personnel in 66% of the farms. Regarding abnormal behaviour, intersuckling in cows was detected on less than 20% of farms. This study, the first done at dairy farm level in Italy, is a first step towards finding a tool for veterinarians and farmers to assess dairy cow welfare.
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Tosi et al. (2001) studied this question.