Open AccessThe development of the AWIN welfare assessment protocol for donkeys
Author(s) -
Emanuela Dalla Costa,
Francesca Dai,
Leigh Margaret Anne Murray,
Simona Cannas,
Elisabetta Canali,
Adroaldo José Zanella,
Michela Minero
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
brazilian journal of veterinary research and animal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.187
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1678-4456
pISSN - 1413-9596
DOI - 10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2021.173333
Subject(s) - donkey , welfare , protocol (science) , population , animal welfare , scrutiny , stakeholder , business , veterinary medicine , medicine , environmental health , political science , biology , ecology , public relations , alternative medicine , pathology , law
The donkey population has increased in the last 10 years, with an estimated 50 million donkeys currently worldwide. Donkey welfare, meanwhile, is an increasing global concern that receives close public scrutiny. However, multiple challenges are surrounding how donkey welfare is assessed and recorded. The Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) project is the first project, funded by the European Commission, intended to improve donkey welfare by developing a scientifically sound and practical on-farm welfare assessment protocol. The present study describes the procedure for the development of the AWIN welfare assessment protocol for donkeys: 1) selection of promising welfare indicators; 2) research to cover gaps in knowledge; 3) stakeholder consultation; 4) testing the prototype protocol on-farm. The proposed two-level strategy improved on-farm feasibility, while the AWIN donkey app enables the standardized collection of data with prompt results. Although limitations are linked with a relatively small reference population, the AWIN welfare assessment protocol represents the first scientific and standardized approach to evaluate donkey welfare on-farm.