INTA developed two new protocols to assess animal welfare in cattle, one for the rearing stage and the other for semi-intensive and extensive finishing, with measurements adapted to the conditions of Argentine production systems. The tools expand the scope of Bienest.AR, the protocol that the organization had developed together with the Argentine Beef Promotion Institute (IPCVA) for feedlot cattle.
“What we sought was to develop tools that make it possible to assess animal welfare in our production systems, using indicators that are valid, reliable, and practical, and that can be applied under the real conditions of Argentine farms,” explained Leandro Langman, coordinator of the INTA-IPCVA animal welfare project and director of the working group that developed the protocol.
The assessment covers four principles: good feeding, appropriate housing and handling areas, good health, and appropriate behavior. For the semi-intensive and extensive finishing protocol, 34 measurements were defined: 5 correspond to the “good feeding” principle, 9 to the “appropriate housing and handling areas” principle, 12 to the “good health” principle, and 8 to the “appropriate behavior” principle.
Meanwhile, the protocol for assessing animal welfare during rearing includes 36 measurements, of which 6 correspond to the “good feeding” principle, 10 to the “appropriate housing and handling areas” principle, 12 to the “good health” principle, and 8 to the “appropriate behavior” principle.
Measurements incorporated into or adapted for these systems include the distance to, availability, cleanliness, and quality of drinking water; the condition of pens, paddocks, or plots; animal hygiene; the presence of insects and external parasites; and the availability of resources to reduce heat or cold stress.
Conditions in loading and unloading areas, the capacity of handling pens, injuries, signs associated with diseases, and interactions between animals and people are also assessed, among other factors.
Behavior has a specific place in the assessment. In addition to recording social behaviors and possible situations involving abusive handling, the protocol includes a qualitative analysis that makes it possible to assess cattle’s emotional state based on their behavior, posture, and context. It also considers the complexity of the environment within the space where they are housed and their access to pasture or forage.
“Unlike the tool from 2021, designed for feedlot finishing, the new development takes into account the specific characteristics of semi-intensive and extensive systems, as well as those associated with indicators relevant to the rearing stage. The aim is not to transfer an existing methodology without modification, but to select and adjust measurements so they are applicable to each production system and stage,” Langman explained.
To define the indicators, the team identified 277 candidate methods and proceeded with a selection process, evaluator training, and reliability analysis. Practicality was tested in 12 field assessments conducted at rearing and semi-intensive and extensive finishing operations. Based on this information, the protocols and their recording sheets were adjusted.
“These tools make it possible to objectively understand the situation at each operation, identify its strengths and areas needing improvement, and use that diagnosis to define specific actions,” Langman said.
Additionally, the tools include various annexes: a pre-assessment survey using the protocol, a description of the production systems to be assessed, a review of the historical series and an estimate of meteorological data for an establishment to support the assessment of the measures “provision of resources to reduce heat stress” and “provision of resources to mitigate cold stress,” and assessment forms to be used at the establishment, along with introductory sections to facilitate the use of these tools by assessors who have undergone prior training in the use of the protocols.
The result is a comprehensive assessment tool that can be incorporated into the management of establishments as a starting point for obtaining an objective diagnosis of the establishment’s situation, designing improvement plans, and conducting periodic follow-ups. According to Langman, it can also help differentiate processes and products within the beef supply chain and, in the future, serve as a basis for moving toward an animal welfare certification process.
The work was carried out as part of a technology-linkage project between INTA and IPCVA and used the European Welfare Quality® protocols (2009) and AWIN® (2015) as references, in addition to the experience of Bienest.AR (2021).
Animal welfare takes center stage at Argentina Alimenta 2026
From 17 to 19 November, the La Rural de Palermo fairgrounds in Buenos Aires will host Argentina Alimenta 2026, an international trade fair bringing together more than 300 exhibitors involved in food production, industry, and marketing. In this context, INTA will take part with a program aimed at sharing scientific advances, technological developments, and experiences of collaboration with the private sector.
Under the motto “Applying science and innovation in food development,” INTA will hold two technical sessions on 17 and 19 November, where researchers and company representatives will address the main challenges facing agri-food supply chains. The program will include developments related to technological innovation, quality, safety, sustainability, and value addition at the different stages of food production and processing.
Among the featured topics, on Tuesday 17 November, from 12 to 13.30 hours, the new animal welfare assessment protocols developed by INTA together with the Argentine Beef Promotion Institute (IPCVA) will be presented. The presentation will be given by Sebastián Cunzolo, from INTA’s Institute of Food Technology, together with representatives of IPCVA, in the session dedicated to meat and meat products.