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Control form: animal welfare indicators in herd

A periodic score of well-being beyond daily supervision

Beyond daily supervision, it is good practice to periodically carry out a more systematic assessment of the herd's welfare. Use the sheet to score a representative sample of the animals on fixed indicators so you can follow the development over time and catch gradual deteriorations that are easily overlooked in daily routine.

§Basic information

  • 01Date and who conducted the inspection.
  • 02Path/section and number of animals assessed.
  • 03Animal species and production stage (such as piglets, slaughter pigs, dairy cows, heifers).

§Indicators for scoring

IndicatorScore (0-3)Note
Hole/nutrition condition
Cleanliness (coat/skin, dung soiling)
Halthed/gangart
Skin and tail bite/wounds/injuries
Behaviour (stereotyped behaviour, apathy, restlessness)
Climate impact (heat, draft, air quality)

§Stable environment and resources

  • 01Is there access to fresh water for all animals without long waiting times?
  • 02Is there enough lying area/space per animal?
  • 03Is occupational material present and in usable condition (relevant for example pigs)?
  • 04Are there visible signs of high infection pressure (e.g. outbreak of respiratory problems)?

§Follow-up

  • 01What measures are implemented based on today's inspection?
  • 02Who is responsible, and when is there follow-up?
  • 03Date for next scheduled inspection.