Abstract The present study aims to evaluate beef cattle welfare with an integrated approach as housing conditions and management practices change and to investigate the relationship between the adopted parameters and their applicability. A total of 15 Piemontese breed bulls reared in a tied stall housing system and 15 Piemontese, 15 Blonde d’Aquitaine and 15 cross-breed from Ireland reared in group-pen were considered. A welfare protocol including a checklist and the ‘RIBECA’ scoring system was prepared for the assessment of animal-based measures and resource-based measures. Blood parameters and hair 20β-dihydrocortisol were also analysed. The animal-based score was not significantly different among the farms, while the total welfare score was ‘poor’ for the animals in the tied stall system, ‘fair’ for Piemontese cattle in the in pen and Irish cross-breed, and ‘very good’ for the Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle. Irish cross-breed were the most fearful, with the blood findings also suggesting that these animals showed the worst adaptation, whereas Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle were well adapted. Furthermore, 20β-dihydrocortisol was lower (p < .01) in Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle when compared to Piemontese cattle tied and Irish cross-breed. The concordance between haematochemical and hair 20β-dihydrocortisol findings observed in the present study suggests that Blonde d’Aquitaine and Piemontese cattle reared in pens were less stressed during their livestock life. Measurements of cortisol metabolites in the hair matrix seem to be a valid diagnostic tool for monitoring animal exposure to situations capable of increasing cortisol levels over time. Highlights Husbandry and management conditions could negatively affect animal welfare. The RIBECA protocol adopted identified some beef cattle welfare critical points. Checking of different blood parameters and hair cortisol metabolites may integrate welfare assessment.

中文翻译：

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肉牛福利评估：使用基于资源和动物的指标、血液参数和毛发 20β-二氢皮质醇

摘要 本研究旨在随着饲养条件和管理实践的变化采用综合方法评估肉牛福利，并调查采用的参数与其适用性之间的关系。总共考虑了 15 头皮蒙特品种公牛在捆绑式畜栏舍系统中饲养，15 头皮埃蒙特品种公牛、15 头 Blonde d'Aquitaine 和 15 头爱尔兰杂交品种在群栏饲养。为评估基于动物的措施和基于资源的措施，准备了包括清单和“RIBECA”评分系统的福利协议。还分析了血液参数和头发 20β-二氢皮质醇。农场之间的动物评分没有显着差异，而捆绑摊位系统中动物的总福利评分“差”，对于围栏和爱尔兰杂交品种的皮埃蒙特牛来说“公平”，对于 Blonde d'Aquitaine 牛来说“非常好”。爱尔兰杂交品种是最可怕的，血液检查结果也表明这些动物的适应能力最差，而 Blonde d'Aquitaine 牛适应能力很好。此外，与皮埃蒙特牛和爱尔兰杂交牛相比，Blonde d'Aquitaine 牛的 20β-二氢皮质醇较低 (p < .01)。在本研究中观察到的血液化学和毛发 20β-二氢皮质醇结果之间的一致性表明，在围栏中饲养的 Blonde d'Aquitaine 和 Piemontese 牛在其牲畜生活中受到的压力较小。毛发基质中皮质醇代谢物的测量似乎是监测动物暴露于能够随时间增加皮质醇水平的情况的有效诊断工具。要点 畜牧业和管理条件可能会对动物福利产生负面影响。采用的 RIBECA 协议确定了一些肉牛福利关键点。检查不同的血液参数和头发皮质醇代谢物可以整合福利评估。