Comparative Assessment of Dairy Cattle Welfare under Intensive and Semi-intensive Management Systems in Kallakurichi District of Tamil Nadu, India
Annadurai Rajadurai *
Livestock Farm Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, TANUVAS, V. Koot Road, Salem, Tamil Nadu (636 112), India.
A. Elango
Veterinary College and Research Institute, TANUVAS, V. Koot Road, Salem, Tamil Nadu (636 112), India.
Periyasamy Vijayakumar
Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Veterinary College and Research Institute, TANUVAS, V. Koot Road, Salem, Tamil Nadu (636 112), India.
P. Senthilkumar
Livestock Farm Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, TANUVAS, V. Koot Road, Salem, Tamil Nadu (636 112), India.
K. R. Pushpanathan
Livestock Farm Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, TANUVAS, V. Koot Road, Salem, Tamil Nadu (636 112), India.
Arumugam Sakthivel Selvan
Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Veterinary College and Research Institute, TANUVAS, V. Koot Road, Salem, Tamil Nadu (636 112), India.
S. Gunasekaran
Livestock Farm Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, TANUVAS, V. Koot Road, Salem, Tamil Nadu (636 112), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study compared selected welfare indicators of dairy cows maintained under intensive and semi-intensive management systems in Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu, India. A comparative cross-sectional design was used. For physiological and biochemical assessment, 40 apparently healthy lactating cows were selected, including 20 cows from intensive systems and 20 from semi-intensive systems. Milk samples were collected from 200 cows, with 100 cows representing each management system. Welfare assessment included haematological parameters, serum biochemical constituents, hormonal indicators, the temperature–humidity index, milk quality traits and selected health disorders. Haematological parameters, including haemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, platelet count and differential leukocyte count, remained within normal physiological limits in both systems, with no significant differences between management groups. Serum biochemical parameters, including total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and glucose, also did not differ significantly between systems. Thyroid hormone concentrations were similar between systems, while serum cortisol concentration was higher in intensively managed cows. Temperature–humidity index values ranged from 65 to 72, indicating environmental comfort during the study period. Milk fat and solids-not-fat percentages were not significantly different. Most recorded health disorders showed no significant difference, although acidosis differed significantly between systems. Overall, both management systems showed broadly comparable welfare status, but stress-related and nutritional management concerns require attention in intensive systems.
Keywords: Dairy cattle welfare, intensive management, semi-intensive management, cortisol, haematology, serum biochemistry, milk quality, temperature–humidity index, acidosis, Tamil Nadu.