Internationally, there is a great need for reliable systems for assessing the animal welfare of husbandry systems at the farm level. Currently, however, there is no consensus among experts working in this field in Europe on which parameters are best suited for assessing animal welfare.

The assessment can be carried out using parameters related to the animal's environment (barn design details, barn climate, management and care), animal-related parameters (behavior, health), or a combination of both. Crucial for the selection of criteria are their reliability, validity, and feasibility.

The animal welfare index TGI 35 L, developed in Austria, has proven to be a practical and accurate instrument for assessing animal welfare at the farm level. Initial research results regarding its validity are also available. However, there is a need to further validate these results with a broader data set and to examine individual aspects in greater detail.

The aim of this project is therefore to compare the assessment results of the Animal Welfare Index TGI 35 L regarding the animal welfare of housing systems with ethological and animal health parameters. This will allow us to determine whether the TGI 35 L provides a clear indication of the animal welfare of a housing system, which forms the basis for the well-being of the animals living within it.