A survey of some factors relevant to animal welfare on 249 dairy farms in the Republic of Ireland - Part 1: Data on housing, calving and calf husbandry

This survey was conducted by questionnaire. The animal population surveyed comprised 12,067 cows and 2,955 heifers in 249 herds. In 48 herds that part icipated in the 'Dairymis' programme, the questionnaire was completed by th e visiting technician in consultation with the farmers; in the other 201 he rds it was completed by a practicing veterinary surgeon in the presence of the farmer. At calving, farmers assisted 35 per cent of cows and 48 per cen t of heifers. Forty-four per cent of the farmers intervened within the firs t hour after the appearance of foetal hooves. A calving jack was used in 23 per cent of calvings. Approximately 80 per cent of the animals were housed in cubicles, 21 per cent of them without bedding material. Many farmers (5 8 per cent) considered productivity to be the best indicator of satisfactor y welfare, while 64 per cent chose nutrition as the most important contribu tor to good welfare.