PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF THE WELFARE OF DAIRY DONKEYS IN NORTH-WESTERN ITALY

There is an increasing interest in donkey farming in Italy, because of the use of donkey milk to feed children affected by Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy. Limited information is available about the management characteristics of dairy donkeys’ facilities, as well as concerning the assessment of the animal welfare. Considering the lack of information, recommendations and a welfare specific legislation on the farming of this species, the aim of this study was to highlight possible critical aspects of this farm system and to assess animal welfare. During each on-farm visit, a check list was fulfilled according to a designed specific score for: good housing and management (bedding quality, regular health checks, foot care, control of insects and rodents, weaning process, milking procedures), good nutritional status (BCS and water provisions), good health (integument cleanliness, injuries, fecal quality, lameness, swollen joints, signs of teeth abnormalities, udder and teat hygiene), behavior (stereotypies). Descriptive statistic of the observed parameters was calculate. A total of 6 dairy donkey farms located in north-western Italy were visited during2013 and 2014. The number of donkeys per facility ranged from 40 to 60; of a total of 206 females, 62 were lactating and 144 were dry jennies, aged between 36 and 48 months. A total of 6 stallions and 67 foals lived on the farms. The animals were kept on pasture with shelters during the day and stabled in pen during the night. They were grouped according to their production, with the exception of one farm where they remained all together on pasture. The visited farms were family run, only two farms had employees. The number of donkeys cared for by a single person varied from 5 to 103 animals. As far as good housing is concerned, straw bedding quality (depth and hygiene) was adequate in all farms. The bedding was changed with a frequency up to 4 times per month. The cleaning of the troughs and of the farm in general (walls and floors) was given a medium score. Regular health checks were provided. Antiparasitic treatments were administered in all farms and measures to control insects and rodents adopted. For the milking procedures, foals were separated from their mothers four (N=1) six (N=3) or 10 hours (N=2) before milking. When separated, they could see or hear the mother. No farms used artificial milk; therefore, the foals received colostrum from and were nursed by their mother during 6- 12 months. Additional feed was introduced between 0 and 12 months. The milking parlour was present in 4 farms, and all the farmers adopted a method of cleaning and disinfection of the teats. The average milk production was 1 litre for 1 daily milking. Forty per cent of the donkeys showed a good body condition score (BCS = 3), a consequence of appropriate nutrition. In 4 farms the animals were provided with hay ad libitum, and complementary feedstuffs; only one farmer provided minerals and vitamins; all the animals showed no changes in colour or consistency of the manure. Concerning good health indicators, all donkeys were judged clean, more than 90% had no swollen joints, lameness, signs of teeth abnormalities. No animal showed any stereotypies. In conclusion, the dairy donkeys farms surveyed in North-Western Italy showed a good level of animal well-being.