Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) is the gold standard method to evaluate welfare and is one of the few methods we have for identifying and assessing positive welfare. It incorporates information on animals’ body language; indicators that have not previously been used. QBA has been included in the Welfare Quality® protocol.
Dairy cattle welfare is a major concern among consumers and industry stakeholders, such as farmers, processors and retailers. Poor cattle welfare can lead to substantial health issues, including lameness, mastitis and infertility. This leads to losses in productivity and, therefore, farm profitability. Whilst UK farms must meet standards set by processors, retailers, and farm assurance schemes, the associated welfare assessment methods often focus on absence of a negative indicator, e.g., lameness or dirty cows, as a proxy for welfare. However, absence of negative welfare is not an indication of “positive welfare”.
Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) is the gold standard method to evaluate welfare and is one of the few methods we have for identifying and assessing positive welfare. It incorporates information on animals’ body language; indicators that have not previously been used. QBA has been included in the Welfare Quality® protocol.