As part of a project commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Health and Women in agreement with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK), checklists and manuals for self-evaluation of animal welfare for cattle, sheep, and goat farming were developed under the direction of the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein. Manuals and checklists for pig and poultry farming were created under the direction of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. These checklists and manuals enable every farmer to check their barn point by point for compliance with Austrian animal welfare law. They also provide veterinarians and advisors with detailed guidance on the applicable animal welfare regulations.
The checklist covers all aspects of animal welfare law, but presents them in simplified, yes/no format. A short explanatory text with examples and diagrams, located on the page opposite each question in the brochure, serves as a guide for completing the checklist. In accordance with the handbook, the checklist is divided into seven areas of influence (A-G):
- A possibility of movement
- B Social contact
- C Air, light, noise
- D Drinking & Feeding
- E care
- F interventions
- G Year-round outdoor housing (for cattle and sheep) or predominantly outdoor housing (for goats)
Within each area of influence, the questions are numbered consecutively. The checklist is structured according to the main uses common in cattle, sheep, and goat farming:
- Cattle: Dairy cows, heifers, calves, fattening cattle, suckler cows with calves, breeding bulls
- Sheep: Dairy sheep, ewes, young sheep, lambs, rams
- Goat: Dairy goats, mother goats, young goats, kids, bucks
This allows the entire barn to be inspected using just one checklist. The Austrian Animal Welfare Act stipulates varying transition periods for implementing the animal welfare regulations, depending on the extent of the required adjustments. These transitional provisions are also clearly shown on the checklist.
The handbook provides detailed supplements and explanations to the checklist. It describes the interpretation of the legal text, the assessment method, provides background information on the meaning of the individual provisions, and gives further recommendations for the animal-friendly design of the barn.
For quick reference, the relevant area of influence (e.g., soil conditions) can be found in the header of each manual page. A glossary at the end of the manual provides the necessary definitions.
The manual is structured as follows:
- Question from the checklist (with consecutive numbering)
- Legal norm: represents the relevant legal basis from the Animal Welfare Act and the Animal Welfare Ordinance
- Data collection: describes the measurement or data collection methodology
- "Fulfilled if": describes which criteria must be met for the question to be answered with "yes"
- Recommendation: This section provides guidance beyond the legal minimum requirements to help make animal husbandry systems more humane. This valuable chapter elevates the handbook beyond a mere legal interpretation tool. It offers a comprehensive reference work for all animal husbandry issues.
- Meaning: explains the significance for the animal's health and behavior
- Transitional period (for cattle) or implementation (for sheep and goats): describes, based on the legally stipulated transitional provisions, when a regulation must be complied with at the latest.
The self-evaluation of animal welfare project is offered in cooperation with the Austrian Animal Health Service (TGD), the Chambers of Agriculture, and the regional control and breeding associations. The checklists and manuals are available in both print and CD formats.
All checklists and manuals can be found via the adjacent link to the specialist center for animal-friendly husbandry and animal welfare!
