On-farm welfare assessment of semi-extensively managed sheep using Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) protocol

As in the European Union, new sets of animal welfare standards have been implemented in Türkiye, a candidate country for EU membership. However, there is still a limited amount of data available to form the basis of policy measures aimed at improving the welfare of animals in the extensive and semi-extensive sheep production systems. Türkiye's geographical and climatic characteristics at the crossroads of continents influence semi-extensive sheep production. This study was conducted in 56 commercial sheep farms in the Emirdağ district of Afyonkarahisar Province, Türkiye, to assess sheep welfare and to identify key welfare risks using the animal-based assessment protocol of the Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) project. Each farm was visited once, and data on the physical conditions of housing and equipment were obtained by measuring or observing, while data on animal management were obtained by interviewing farmers. A total of 702 sheep were individually assessed on the farms as part of the animal-based sheep assessment using the AWIN protocol. Animal management practices, including providing adequate space per animal (1.7 m²), hand milking, veterinary consultation, avoiding painful mutilations in lambs, and bottle-feeding weak newborn lambs, supported sheep welfare. No cases of excessive scratching, myiasis, leg problems, or clinical mastitis were observed. Major body lesions were rare (major lesions were mostly found on the udder at 0.65 % and least on the legs at 0.00 %), while lameness (1.3 %) and hoof overgrowth (6.27 %) were at relatively low levels. No animals exhibited social withdrawal or stereotypical behavior. Poor body condition (30.04 %), severe faecal soiling (36.85 %), wet and soiled fleece (48.65 %), poor wool quality (22.94 %), and respiratory problems (9.30 %) may result from poor air quality, inadequate comfort, and insufficient floor hygiene in barns. Potential welfare risks were identified as follows: milking sheep immediately after birth; negative human-animal interactions; the lack of loading ramps, water, and shade in village pastures, as well as of regular foot care, mastitis and lameness control programs, and farm records. As a result, this study provides insight into the animal welfare of animals on family sheep farms in Inner West Anatolia, Türkiye, and highlights the need for high-quality feed, better housing conditions, and good animal handling. The findings could be used to support policies to improve animal welfare standards, including barn design, animal welfare management, and awareness of animal needs.