Sustainable farm development considers various management levels within the system boundary. All levels serve the internal optimization of farms, but also paint a picture for the consumer. These aspects were combined in the farm management tool FarmLife by the Eco-Efficiency Research Group at HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, together with colleagues from the Life Cycle Assessments Working Group at the Swiss Agroscope.
The goal of the project
The aim of the project was to develop suitable parameters and methods for assessing the animal welfare potential of husbandry systems, using cattle farming as an example, and to integrate them into the existing farm management tool FarmLife. To this end, existing national and international assessment systems were analyzed, two expert meetings and practical trials were conducted, and the FarmLife Welfare Index (FWI) system was developed based on comprehensive assessment models.
FarmLife Welfare Index
The FarmLife Welfare Index is divided into three sections: "Husbandry Conditions," "Animal Care and Management," and "Animal Welfare." These three sections incorporate the evaluation of 18 indicator groups comprising 43 individual indicators. The assessment is conducted online via the shared technical platform www.farmlife.at. While highly practical in its application, this assessment system focuses on the animal, but the results are also designed to provide insights into influencing factors and offer farmers recommendations for improving any shortcomings in husbandry or management.
Download accompanying manual
for the collection of the FarmLife Welfare Index
{rsfiles path="3_2021_Begleithandbuch_FarmLifeWelfare.pdf"}
Team
Dr. Thomas Guggenberger, MSc
Institute Director Livestock Research
Priv. Doz. Dr. Andreas Steinwidder
Leitung Forschung & Innovation
Dr. Markus Herndl
Department of Soil Science and Lysimetry, Head of the Eco-efficiency Research Group
Dr. Georg Terler
Milk production and animal nutrition
Mag. Christian Fritz, MA
Department Management
DI Edina Scherzer
Scientific Project Staff Member Research & Development
Isabella Zamberger
Organic farming