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Final Report final report Project code: B.AWW.0237 Prepared by: Rebecca Doyle The University of Melbourne Date published: January 2018 PUBLISHED BY Meat and Livestock Australia Limited Locked Bag 1961 NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2059 Assessing and addressing on-farm sheep welfare Meat & Livestock Australia acknowledges the matching funds provided by the Australian Government to support the research and development detailed in this publication. This publication is published by Meat & Livestock Australia Limited ABN 39 081 678 364 (MLA). Care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However MLA cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained in the publication. You should make your own enquiries before making decisions concerning your interests. Reproduction in whole or in part of this publication is prohibited without prior written consent of MLA. B.AWW.0237 – Assessing and addressing on-farm sheep welfare Executive summary The core aim of this research project was to understand the relationships between producer attitudes and the welfare of their ewes. Six animal-based measures were evaluated for use as ewe welfare indicators: body condition score, fleece condition, skin lesions, tail length, dag score and lameness. Over the course of this study, the main welfare issues were poor nutrition (under and over feeding), mortality, lameness, ecto-parasites (flystrike) and mastitis. All of these issues can arise from, and be treated by, management practices. Along with management strategies, reproductive stage, breed and region all affected animal welfare, but farm size did not. Farmers had very positive views on the importance of the welfare of their ewes. It was clear that our farmers had a strong concern and appreciation for animal welfare and attitudinal beliefs that their actions influenced ewe welfare. In some cases, however, there was a disconnect between their behaviours and welfare outcomes of the ewes under their care. Attitude and perceived behavioural control were the two key drivers behind the behaviour of sheep farmers. Strategies to encourage behaviour change that target these drivers to be developed and tested. Benchmarking welfare and production would be one valuable way to engage farmers and encourage change. In the short term improving data collection and record keeping would be a simple activity to benefit welfare. Providing farmers with easily accessible and practical solutions to common welfare issues could help increase the frequency with which animals needing further care are treated. Methods would need to be applied when ewes are in the yards, or implement relatively easily in the paddock. Industry-wide welfare risks were tail length, lameness and recording accurate data on mortalities. Targeting these issues would have substantial benefit to a large number of animals. Cost-benefit analyses indicate modest financial gains on farm with improved welfare. These include reduced losses from short docked tails and gains from improved body condition management through more effective pasture allocations. Across all study farms, the average annual ewe mortality rate was 4.9%. A 1% reduction in the annual ewe mortality rate would increase the gross income of the Australian sheep flock by $53,516,000. Economic modelling did not include the industry identified risk animal welfare poses the biggest single risk to maintaining market access over the next 15 years. Research recommendations focus on benchmarking welfare between different classes of stock, farms and over time, understanding incidents and causes of lameness and mastitis further, and evaluating the impact of activities targeting attitude and perceived behavioural control. Extension recommendations involve providing practical solutions to common welfare issues identified on farm, and tools to identify issues early. Page 2 of 210 B.AWW.0237 – Assessing and addressing on-farm sheep welfare Acknowledgements Over 300 farmers contributed to this project. This contribution was a voluntary one that was based on their motivations to improve the welfare of their animals, their businesses and the industry. We’re especially appreciative of the 32 farmers that opened their gates to us and shared their insights. Without their commitment, there would be no project. Eight technical staff supported Carolina and Rebecca with the data collection for the project. We also received support from the Mackinnon project, Agriculture Victoria and industry experts. Page 3 of 210 B.AWW.0237 – Assessing and addressing on-farm sheep welfare Table of contents 1 List of outputs to date ............................................................................................... 7 1.1 Scientific outputs ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Industry outputs ...................................................................................................................... 8 2 Background ............................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Significance of sheep welfare to the industry ......................................................................... 9 2.2 Welfare of extensively managed sheep .................................................................................. 9 2.3 Farmer attitudes and animals ................................................................................................ 10 2.4 Project aims and outcomes ................................................................................................... 10 3 Project objectives..................................................................................................... 11 4 Literature review ..................................................................................................... 12 5 Stakeholder survey .................................................................................................. 13 5.1 Methods ................................................................................................................................. 13 5.2 Results .................................................................................................................................... 13 5.3 Discussion .............................................................................................................................. 14 6 Development of on-farm components: Farmer attitude questionnaire ...................... 16 6.1 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 16 6.2 Results .................................................................................................................................... 16 6.2.1 Welfare indicators and assessment ............................................................................... 16 6.2.2 Behaviour and attitudes ................................................................................................ 17 6.3 Discussion .............................................................................................................................. 24 7 Development of on-farm components: Ewe welfare indicators ................................. 25 7.1 Methods ................................................................................................................................. 25 7.2 Results .................................................................................................................................... 25 7.3 Discussion .............................................................................................................................. 33 8 Farmer attitudes, management practices and the welfare of extensively managed ewes ........................................................................................................................ 38 8.1 Methods ................................................................................................................................. 38 8.1.1 Farmer recruitment ....................................................................................................... 38 8.1.2 Farmer questionnaire .................................................................................................... 38 8.1.3 Ewe welfare assessment ................................................................................................ 39 8.1.4 Relationships between farmer characteristics and ewe welfare .................................. 41 Page 4 of 210 B.AWW.0237 – Assessing and addressing on-farm sheep welfare 8.1.5 Statistical analyses ......................................................................................................... 42 8.2 Results .................................................................................................................................... 43 8.2.1 Farm and farmer characteristics .................................................................................... 43 8.2.2 Farm management practices ......................................................................................... 44 8.2.3 Farmer attitudes ............................................................................................................ 48 8.2.4 Ewe welfare assessment ................................................................................................ 53 8.2.5 Relationships between farmer characteristics
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