Comparative Assessment of Dairy Cattle Welfare Under Intensive and Semi-Intensive Management Systems in Tamil Nadu, India

The study aimed to assess the welfare of dairy cows kept in semi-intensive and intensive system of farming in Kallakurichi District of Tamil Nadu. For assessing welfare indicators sample size of 20 dairy cows was selected for blood profile in each category. In blood profile like whole blood Haemoglobin, PCV, RBC, WBC, Platelets, Neutrophils, Monocytes, Lymphocytes, Eosinophils and basophils are well within the normal range and no significant differences were observed between intensive and semi-intensive system of dairy farming as well. In serum bio chemical analysis Total protein, Albumin, Globulin, AST, ALP, BUN, Creatinine, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Glucose are well within the normal range as well as no significant differences were observed between the systems of farming. T3, T4, TSH and Cortisol level are also well within the normal range but cortisol level exhibited significant difference between systems of farming. Higher cortisol level was recorded in intensive dairy farming compared to semi-intensive dairy farming. In both the systems of dairy farming Temperature humidity index indicated that the values are very well within the ideal value between 65 to 72 which reflects the ideal comfort level. Statistically no difference was found between the study area regarding THI values. Milk samples were collected from 200 animals from both the systems, analysed for fat and SNF, which showed no significant differences between systems of farming. No significant differences were observed about the variables related to health parameters like Mastitis, Milk Fever, Ketosis, Hoof problems and Abortions but Acidosis shows significant difference more in semi-intensive dairy farming compared to intensive farming.