As part of the Austria-wide seminar “Assessing and improving cow comfort”, which took place on September 20, 2023 at the LFS Pyhra, the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein FarmLife Welfare tool presented.
Following an introduction to the FarmLife Welfare Index in a lecture, the animal welfare survey in the barn was practiced practically together with the seminar participants under the guidance of Dr. Elfriede Ofner-Schröck and DI Edina Scherzer.
Animal welfare is a top priority on successful dairy farms . Nevertheless, every farm has areas that could be improved. Often, the potential for improvement isn't immediately apparent – this is where the FarmLife Welfare Tool comes in. The survey queries numerous parameters, such as floor slip resistance, neck rail height,and the frequency of hoof trimming. Small adjustments can have a significant impact on animal welfare.
The Austrian consultants aim to highlight these key areas for improvement on farms. The FarmLife Welfare tool is suitable for data collection based on a consultation. The clear presentation of the results can then be discussed in detail with the farm managers.
The great interest shown in the application and the lively discussions with the consultants and teachers were very valuable, and we look forward to further successful collaboration. A special thank you goes to Dr. Marco Horn, Lower Austria Chamber of Agriculture, who organized and led the training event.
Image source: Marco Horn, LK Lower Austria
