Orientador: Mateus José Rodrigues Paranhos da Costa / Banca: Isabella Dias Barbosa Silveira / Banca: Ricardo Andrade Reis / Resumo: Os objetivos foram estudar os efeitos de um programa de treinamento em manejo racional no bem-estar de bovinos e testar a viabilidade prática da aplicação do manejo racional em frigoríficos. Os comportamentos de humanos e bovinos foram estudados em três frigoríficos durante o desenvolvimento de dois processos: 1) condução dos bovinos dos currais de espera até o boxe de atordoamento e 2) atordoamento. Nas avaliações do processo de condução dos animais foram acompanhados 31, 22 e 18 lotes de animais antes do treinamento nos frigoríficos MT, GO e SP, respectivamente, repetindo-se o mesmo número de lotes após o treinamento. Foram registradas duas variáveis do comportamento humano durante a condução dos animais (uso do bastão elétrico e uso inadequado da bandeira) e três do comportamento bovino (escorregões, quedas e vocalizações). Durante o processo de atordoamento foram consideradas duas variáveis, a eficiência de atordoamento (sendo observados 336, 475 e 314 animais nos frigoríficos MS, GO e SP, respectivamente, em cada etapa, antes e após o treinamento) e sinais de insensibilidade (com 400, 453 e 308 animais nos frigoríficos MS, GO e SP, respectivamente, em cada etapa). Os dados sobre a condução dos bovinos foram analisados usando-se Anova com o procedimento GLM e para as variáveis de atordoamento foi utilizado o Teste de Kruskall-Wallis. Houve diferenças significativas (P<0,01) entre frigoríficos nas variáveis escorregões, quedas, uso do bastão elétrico e sinais de insensibilidade. Também houve efeito significativo do treinamento para a maioria das variáveis estudadas, sendo que o maior efeito foi no uso do bastão elétrico, que diminuiu nos três frigoríficos após o treinamento. Os resultados indicaram que os frigoríficos que realizaram investimentos em mão de obra e instalações, atingiram melhor resposta ao treinamento dos funcionários. / Abstract: The objectives of this research were to study the effects of rational handling training programs on cattle welfare and to test the practical feasibility of the rational handling in the slaughterhouse. The human and cattle behaviours were recorded in three slaughterhouses during two processes: 1) leading cattle from lairage to stunning boxes and 2) stunning cattle. In order to assess the handling procedures during the first process we studied 31, 22 and 18 groups of cattle, before and after the training activity, in three slaughterhouses (MT, GO and SP); in this process five variables were considered, two of them related to human behaviour (the frequency of electric prod and the frequency of inadequate flag use) and three related to cattle behaviour (the frequencies of slips, falls and vocalizations). For the assessment of the stunning process two variables were defined: stunning efficiency (with 336, 475 and 314 cattle observed before and after the training period) and insensitiveness (with 400, 453, and 308 animals observed before and after training). Analysis of variance was used for data related to the process of driving the animals to the stunning box and the Kruskall- Wallis test was used when for the variables related to the stunning process. Significant statistical differences were found among slaughterhouses for the frequencies of slips, falls, use of the electric prod and insensitiveness. Similar results were found when considered the effects of training, being the major effect on the frequency of electric prod use, which dropped down in three slaughterhouses. Inadequate facilities and equipments promoted depreciation on the labour, increasing the frequencies of slips, falls and in the number of sensitive animals after stunning. The results suggested that the slaughterhouses that did invest in people, training, facilities and equipments achieved a better result in the improvement of animal welfare. / Mestre

Os conceitos de bem-estar animal são uma realidade dentro da avicultura mundial. Sabe-se que aves estressadas apresentam diminuição no crescimento e na conversão alimentar, desajustes fisiológicos e hormonais, bem como aumento da suscetibilidade a doenças em decorrência de modificações induzidas pelo estresse na resposta imune. Além disso, eventos estressantes vêm sendo relacionados com distúrbios na integridade da microbiota intestinal. Nesse sentido, buscamos neste trabalho estudar os efeitos do estresse térmico por calor nas temperaturas de 26±1ºC, 31±1ºC e 36±1ºC sobre os índices zootécnicos, a integridade intestinal e a imunidade inata de frangos de corte, correlacionado e discutindo os achados experimentais dentro de uma perspectiva neuroimune. Nossos resultados mostraram que o estresse por calor (31±1ºC e 36±1ºC) em frangos de corte: (1) diminuiu o ganho de peso e o consumo de ração, porém só observamos diminuição da conversão alimentar e da mortalidade nas aves submetidas ao estresse de 36±1ºC; (2) diminuiu o peso relativo da bursa de Fabrícius, porém apenas a temperatura de 36±1ºC diminuiu o peso relativo do timo; (3) diminuiu o burst oxidativo basal de macrófagos, porém apenas a temperatura de 31±1ºC foi capaz de diminuir o burst oxidativo dessa célula na presença de S. aureus. (4) aumentou os níveis séricos de corticosterona; e (5) observamos presença de discreta enterite caracterizada por aumento de infiltrado inflamatório linfo-plasmocitario na lamina própria do jejuno. Tomados em seu conjunto, os presentes dados permitem afirmar que o estresse térmico por calor tenha produzido alterações na atividade neuroimune dos frangos de corte modificando, nos mesmos a atividade do eixo HPA; essas alterações teriam influenciado o desempenho produtivo e a imunidade, propiciado do aparecimento de processos inflamatórios intestinais. / The concept of animal welfare is a reality in the world poultry industry. Stressed chickens present a decrease in growth performance and feed conversion, physiological and hormonal changes as well as an increased susceptibility to diseases. Recurrent changes induced by in stress in human and animals immune functions were also reported after stress in poultry. Besides that, stressed events were reported to be related to intestinal microbiota integrity disturbances. In this sense, we evaluated the effects of heat stress (26±1ºC, 31±1ºC and 36±1ºC) on broiler chickens performance parameters, intestinal morphology and innate immunity, correlating and discussing the observed data under a neuroimmune perspective. Ours results showed the heat stress (31±1ºC and 36±1ºC) in broiler chickens (1) decreased body weight gain and feed consumption, however feed conversion and mortality decreased only in chickens submitted to 36±1ºC, (2) decreased the bursa of Fabricius relative weight in 31±1ºC and 36±1ºC, but thymus relative weight decreased only in the 36±1ºC stressed chickens, (3) decreased macrophage basal oxidative burst, however only the 31±1ºC heat stress decreased S. aureus induced oxidative burst, (4) increased corticosterona serum levels, and (5) induced an enteritis characterized by increased presence of lymphocytes and plasmocytes within the lamina propria of jejunum. These obtained results suggested that heat stress-induced changes in broiler chickens were a consequence of a neuroimune activity disturbance, most probably, on animals HPA axis activity. Thus, a possible increase in corticosterona serum levels induced by the heat stress underlay the effects of this stressor on birds\' performance and immune function, leading to the appearance of intestinal histophatological signs of inflammation.

Despite a growing increase in popularity of human-animal interaction research, there remains a lack of understanding of the reasons why children are cruel to animals and whether early intervention is effective in preventing cruelty and neglect. The aims of this thesis were to deepen our understanding of the psychology of child-animal interactions, and to test whether targeted educational interventions improve the mechanisms which underlie these interactions. A review of the literature found that current research is heavily biased towards the positive impact of animals, identifying a need for more research into the complex web of psychological factors that impact these relationships. The systematic review included in this thesis provides the first narrative meta-synthesis of empirical research on the psychological risk factors for childhood animal cruelty and highlights a decrease in publications over more recent years, as well as a lack of high quality research. Studies have largely overlooked the fact that most cruelty in childhood is unmotivated and accidental and so further research is essential to understand how to prevent different types of childhood animal cruelty. Three studies investigated the fundamental mechanisms that underlie child-animal interactions, focusing on attachment to pets, beliefs about animal minds, and attitudes towards animal cruelty. These studies highlighted the importance of teaching children about animal sentience through education, and that educational interventions should focus on preventing unmotivated cruelty and neglect in the general population. Animal welfare education aims to promote positive relationships between children and animals, thus preventing cruelty. However, few scientific evaluations of these programs exist. This thesis evaluates a cruelty prevention education programme, 'Prevention through Education', developed by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Knowledge, attachment to pets, attitudes towards animals, attitudes towards animal cruelty, compassion towards animals, reported humane behaviour, and beliefs about animal minds were assessed at pre-test, post-test, and delayed post-test using a self-report questionnaire, comparing test schools to control schools. The questionnaire was administered to 1,217 Scottish children aged 6 to 13 years. The results found that cognitive factors were influenced by the intervention, but affective factors were more resistant to change. A novel cruelty prevention iPad game that was theoretically driven and evidence based, was designed, developed and evaluated. The evaluation involved a pre-test, post-test, test-control design using a self-report questionnaire with 184 primary-school children in Scotland, UK. The results indicated a positive impact of the game on increasing knowledge about animal welfare needs and appropriate and safe behaviour towards pets, increasing children's beliefs about pet minds, and decreasing acceptance of cruelty to pets. The intervention had no impact on compassion. This study demonstrates the potential of developing interactive iPad games to promote cognitive dimensions of positive child-animal interactions. This thesis highlights the importance of evidence-based animal welfare education for early prevention of animal cruelty, and the potential of computer game-based learning to promote positive child-animal interactions. This thesis further addresses major gaps in psychological research and deepens our understanding of how to prevent animal cruelty and neglect. The findings have implications for practice and policy and will impact upon the educational strategies of organisations wishing to develop early prevention strategies.

Castração, descorna e amochamento são práticas de manejo dolorosas, mas realizadas em bovinos de corte. Resultados experimentais sugerem que a dor pode ser reduzida. Contudo, as evidências são contraditórias. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito desses três procedimentos em indicadores de bem-estar em bovinos de corte com o uso da revisão sistemática e meta-análise (MA). A pesquisa foi realizada em cinco bases de dados eletrônicas e em anais de congressos, além do contato eletrônico com pesquisadores da área. O principal critério de inclusão foram estudos completos ou não randomizados em bovinos de corte com até um ano de idade, submetidos ou a castração ou a descorna ou ao amochamento, que avaliassem concentração de cortisol e/ou ganho médio diário de peso (GMD) e/ou vocalização. Foi realizada MA para efeitos randomizados para cada procedimento e indicador separadamente com as médias dos grupos controle e tratado. Não foram obtidos dados para a realização da MA sobre amochamento. Um total de 23 estudos, representando 156 ensaios e 1.617 animais foram incluídos na MA para castração; na MA para descorna foram setes estudos, 169 ensaios e 287 animais. Observou-se heterogeneidade entre os estudos para os três indicadores avaliados. Independente do grupo controle, não houve efeito significativo no nível de cortisol em animais castrados sem uso de anestésico ou analgésico. O GMD foi superior para animais castrados de forma cirúrgica (P=0.010; MD=0.231 g/dia) e não cirúrgica (P=0.002; MD=0.883 g/dia) em relação aos não castrados. Nos animais não descornados, a concentração de cortisol foi inferior em 0.767 e 0.680 nmol/L, 30 (P=0.000) e 120 min (P=0.023) pós-intervenção, respectivamente, em relação aos descornados por amputação. A anestesia local reduziu os níveis de cortisol 30 min após a descorna mecânica. Animais não descornados tenderam a vocalizar menos (P=0.081; MD=-0.929) que os descornados. Foi observado viés de publicação (cortisol na castração e GMD na descorna), indicando que estudos com amostras pequenas e não significativos são menos propensos a serem publicados que estudos similares e significativos. Ficou evidente a necessidade de pesquisas sobre estratégias para minimizar o estresse e a dor experimentada pelos bovinos durante e após a castração e a descorna, além da busca por indicadores comportamentais e fisiológicos menos invasivos. / Castration, dehorning and disbudding are painful practices, although conducted in beef cattle. Despite researches suggest that pain can be reduced, the evidences are not conclusive. We aimed to assess the effects of those three procedures in beef cattle on welfare indicators by systematic review-meta-analysis (MA) approach. We searched on five electronic databases and conference proceedings, as well as we electronically contacted experts. The main inclusion criteria were complete and non-randomized studies using beef cattle until one year of age, undergoing castration or dehorning or disbudding that reported cortisol concentration or average daily weight gain (ADG) or vocalization as the outcome. Random effect MA was conducted for each procedure and indicator separately with the mean of control and treated group. There are no data available to analyse dibudding using MA procedure. A total 23 studies, with 156 trials and 1,617 animals was included in the MA for castration; MA for dehorning included seven studies, 69 trials and 287 animals. Significant heterogeneity between studies was observed for all evaluated outcome. Regardless the control group, there was no significant changes on cortisol when castration was performed without anaesthetic or analgesic cover. The ADG showed an increase of 0.883 g/day and 0.231 g/day for non-surgical (P=0.002) and surgical castration (P=0.010), respectively, compared a non-castrated group. Non-dehorned animals showed lower cortisol concentration of 0.767 and 0.680 nmol/L, 30 (P=0.000) and 120 (P=0.023) min after intervention, respectively, when compared with amputation dehorning group. Local anaesthesia reduced increases in cortisol concentration 30 min after dehorned by amputation. Non-dehorned cattle had a marginal significant (P=0.081; MD=-0.929) decrease in the number of vocalization than in dehorned by amputation. Publication bias was observed (cortisol in castration analysis; ADG in dehorning analysis), indicating that small size studies reporting non-significant results were less likely to be published than similar studies that found a significant effect. Researches about effective strategies to alleviate the stress and pain experienced by castrated and dehorned cattle are necessary, as well as validate less invasive physiological measures and behavioural indicators.

Objetivou-se com essa pesquisa analisar o bem-estar animal e o desempenho zootécnico de matrizes suínas nas fases de gestação e maternidade e leitões na fase de maternidade, criadas em sistemas de baias coletivas sem e com acesso a piquete. O experimento foi realizado no setor de suinocultura da PUSP-FC, da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Campus Fernando Costa, na cidade de Pirassununga, entre os meses de novembro de 2015 e março de 2016, durante a fase reprodutiva das matrizes suínas; gestação e maternidade. Para isso, foram utilizadas 13 matrizes da linhagem TopGen Afrodite® (linhagem formada pelas raças Large White e Landrace), com as mesmas características fisiológicas (segunda ordem de parto), submetidas a um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso. Foram avaliados os índices zootécnicos da cobertura ao desmame (peso; ganho de peso; escore da condição corporal; das matrizes; número de leitões nascidos vivos; número de natimortos; peso inicial dos leitões; peso final dos leitões), indicadores hormonais (coleta do fluido oral - cortisol salivar), fisiológicos de conforto térmico (temperatura de pele nas regiões da cabeça, paleta e lombo), e parâmetros de bem-estar animal (com base no ambiente e em observações do animal). A partir dos resultados constatamos que as avaliações do ambiente físico e incidência de lesão e doença, as concentrações de cortisol e as temperaturas da surperfície corporal não diferiram entre os sistemas (P&gt;0,05); as matrizes e leitões permaneceram a maior parte do tempo inativos com olhos fechados e quando estavam ativos, os animais alojados no sistema de baias coletivas com acesso à piquete externo forragearam mais do que as matrizes alojadas no outro tratamento; em relação ao desempenho zootécnico observou-se que as matrizes tiveram aumento de peso ao longo da gestação (P1; P2), perderam peso durante o período de lactação (P3) e os demais parâmetros não diferiram entre os sistemas de alojamentos (P&gt;0,05). Com isso, conclui-se que as matrizes alojadas em baias coletivas sem e com acesso à piquete externo tiveram um bem-estar e desempenho zootécnico adequado e equivalente. / The objective of this research was to analyze the animal welfare and the zootechnical performance of sows in the gestation and maternity stages, created in group-housed without and with access to external area. The experiment was carried out in no pig industry of PUSP-FC, University of São Paulo (USP), at the Fernando Costa Campus, in the city of Pirassununga, between November 2015 and March 2016, during a reproductive phase of Swine matrices; Pregnancy and maternity. For this, 13 sows of the lineage TopGen Afrodite® (lineage formed by Large White and Landrace races), with the same physiological characteristics, were submitted to a completely random design. The zootechnical indexes of weaning coverage, hormonal weights, hormonal indicators (collection of oral fluid - salivary cortisol), physiological thermal comfort (skin temperature in the heads, palette and loins), and animal welfare parameters (Based on the environment and animal observations). (P&gt; 0.05). From the results obtained in the physical examination and incidence of lesions and diseases, such as cortisol concentrations and body surface temperatures; As permanent sows and piglets in most of the time the products are closed and in which they were found, animals not housed in the system of collective- housed with access to external area foraged more than the matrices housed in the other treatment; (P2), lost weight during the lactation period (P3) and the others did not differ between the housing systems (P&gt; 0.05). Thus, it was concluded that matrices lived in group-housed without and with access to external area had adequate and equivalent welfare and zootechnical performance.

A produção avícola está em pleno crescimento devido ao aumento do consumo de carne e ovos em escala mundial. Nesse contexto, o Brasil ocupa a segunda posição na produção mundial de carne de frango de corte e a primeira posição na exportação mundial desta proteína (ABPA, 2017). Considerando, que a procura por produtos diferenciados e de qualidade superior impactam os sistemas de criação de frango, torna-se necessária a utilização de sistemas que otimizem o bem-estar animal, bem como melhore a qualidade da produção, reduzindo custos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi apresentar a implementação de um sistema de controle térmico aplicado em aviário convencional (experimental), utilizando tecnologia IoT. O experimento foi realizado durante o período de 17 de novembro de 2018 a 25 de janeiro de 2019 no aviário 3, do Laboratório de Avicultura do Departamento de Zootecnia da Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos da USP, localizado na cidade de Pirassununga, região Centro-Leste do estado de São Paulo e, segundo a classificação Kppen possui características de clima subtropical Cwa, entre os meridianos de 21°57\'38.43\" S e 47°27\'02.22\" W. O sistema de monitoramento e controle climático foi composto por uma Rede de Sensores sem Fio (RSSF) instalados no aviário 3 que coletaram as variáveis físicas de temperatura do ar (Tar), umidade do ar (Uar), e temperatura superficial interna (Tsi), armazenando-as em um banco de dados na nuvem, acionando ou desligando de forma automatizada através de módulos atuadores, ou ainda, permitindo que o gestor acione ou desligue o sistema de climatização para que a Tar aproxime-se ao máximo possível, naquele instante, da Temperatura ideal do ar (Tid), proporcionando assim, o conforto térmico de acordo com a idade dos frangos de corte em produção. Os resultados alcançados durante o experimento mostraram o bom desempenho do sistema automatizado no controle térmico, uma vez que o mesmo conseguiu manter a homogeneidade térmica, diminuindo a variação de temperatura nos pontos monitorados, ou seja, nas 8 zonas de monitoramento de controle, além da redução em aproximadamente 80% no consumo de energia elétrica, em relação ao sistema convencional (manual). Conclui-se, portanto, que o sistema automatizado pôde contribuir de maneira significativa para o monitoramento e controle de aviários convencionais, inclusive com o seu monitoramento e controle em tempo real e online. / Aviculture is in continuous growth thanks to the increased consumption of chicken meat and eggs in a global scale. In that context, Brazil has the second place in worldwide production of broilers and holds the first place as exporter of this protein (ABPA, 2017). Considering that the search for differentiated products with superior quality impact broiler breeding systems, the implementation of systems that optimize animal welfare and improve the productions quality while diminishing its costs, are very necessary. The purpose of this study was to introduce the implementation of a thermic control system applied in an (experimental) conventional aviary, making use of IoT technology. The experiment was conducted during the period between November the 17th, 2018 to January the 25th, 2019 in the aviary #3, belonging to the Aviculture Laboratory of the Department of Animal Science in the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering of the University of São Paulo (USP). The faculty is located in the city of Pirassununga, which is in the central-eastern region of the State of São Paulo and according to Köppen classification, possesses the characteristics of a Cwa subtropical climate, between the meridians of 21°57\'38.43\" S and 47°27\'222.22\" W. The climate monitoring and control system was composed by a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), which collected the physical variations of the air\'s temperature, its humidity and the internal surface temperature of aviary #3. All of this data was stored in a cloud data bank which was activated and deactivated automatically by actuator modules or by allowing the manager to turn on or off the climate regulation system so the air temperature can approximate, as much as possible, the ideal air temperature, thus providing thermic comfort for each phase of the broilers growth development. The results reached during the experiment, showed the performance of the automated system with thermic control, since it maintained the thermic homogeneity, diminishing the temperature variation in the monitored points, that is, the 8 control monitoring zones. Further on, there was a reduction of approximately 80% of electric energy consumption in regards to the conventional (manual) system. In conclusion, the automated system can contribute in a significative manner to the monitoring and control of conventional aviaries, with its controlling and monitoring in real time and available online.

The subject of this thesis is the Swedish animal welfare movement, its origin and early development 1875-1920. The first national Swedish animal welfare society was formed in Stockholm 1875. It was soon followed by other associations for the protection of animals. The animal welfare movement grew rapidly in Sweden. Not until towards the 1920s did the membership decline. The material studied in this thesis consists of a broad variety of documents from the animal welfare societies, such as journals and books as well as children's stories and parliamentary publications. The aim is to study both the origins and early development in Sweden of societies for the protection of animals, wild and domestic, during the decades around the turn of the century. The Swedish debates on animal welfare laws are of interest as well as discussions about vivisection and slaughter. The aim is to provide a wider analysis by taking various ideas and groups of people, such as veterinarians, schoolteachers and women into account.

The benefits gained by the presentation of environmental enrichment (EE) to captive animals are widely recognized. Few studies have, however, studied how to maximize the effect of EE. Repeated presentations of EE may cause a reduced interest towards the EE device, called habituation. To study the effect of habituation towards EE, behavioural data from 14 captive Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) were collected during two different EE treatments. In treatment one, honey logs were presented for five consecutive days (ConsEE). In treatment two, the logs were presented every alternative day for five days (AltEE). The different treatments both showed a significant effect on responsiveness toward the EE, however, leaving gap days inbetween presentations in AltEE showed no reliable reduction in habituation. Both treatments significantly reduced stereotypies, however, only ConsEE reduced levels of stereotypies long term. Explorative behaviours, which are the most prominent behaviours in the wild, increased during both treatments. This is consistent with previous findings (Fischbacher &amp; Schmid 1999, Grandia et al. 2001) that EE increases natural behaviours, which has been desribed as an indication of improved welfare (Carlstead et al. 1991 etc.). Other behavioural categories such as social and passiva behaviours were unaffected by the EE presentations. THe results show that it is possible to increase the effectiveness of EE by simple means in order to ensure animal welfare.

Researchers have demonstrated clear benefits to humans in their relationships with companion animals; however, little is known about how these animals may benefit from their relationships with humans. The purpose of the current study is to investigate potential benefits to a pet of living in a household, as defined by an array of specific pet owner behaviors. A second purpose is to investigate the relationship between self-reported attachment to a pet and dimensions of potentially beneficial owner behaviors on behalf of that animal. Participants in the current study were pet-owning undergraduate students (N = 501) from a large Midwestern university who were surveyed on an array of behaviors they may perform for or with a companion animal. Self-reported attachment to the animal was measured using the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (Johnson, Garrity, & Stallones, 1992). Factor analysis resulted in five dimensions of behavior for dog owners (n = 350), named Indoor/Outdoor, Attention, Inclusion, Well-being, and Safety. Four dimensions were found for cat owners (n = 151) and named Indoor/Outdoor, Indulgence, Possessions, and Independence. The Indoor/Outdoor dimension was similar to factors found in previous research. The rest of the dimensions appear to be uniquely important in terms of either dog or cat ownership. Regression analysis using factor scores to predict attachment revealed that 38.6% of the variance in attachment scores for dog owners and 23.6% for cat owners was explained by the dimensions. The results of the factor analysis provide a picture of what human care giving might mean, in terms of beneficial behavior, to the animal. The results also indicate that the basic needs of companion animals are being met regardless of the degree of attachment: low attachment may not necessarily mean poor care. Attachment does, however, appear to make a difference in the life of a companion animal in terms of enrichment. Dog owners who report higher attachment tend to include the dog in family activities, and provide certain kinds of attentions. Cat owners who report higher attachment are more likely to have a cat that stays close by their side, and are also more likely to provide gifts and treats to the cat. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Wichita State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology. / "May 2005."

La valutazione oggettiva del benessere negli allevamenti di bovine da latte, risulta peraltro molto complessa e controversa. I principali problemi riguardano la scelta degli indicatori da utilizzare nel modello e l’aggregazione dei risultati ottenuti con ciascun indicatore in un punteggio globale che sia espressione del benessere reale. Alla luce di queste considerazioni, è evidente che un modello applicativo di valutazione del benessere necessita di una validazione scientifica. I nostri risultati hanno mostrato che sono soprattutto i valori di fruttosamina riscontrati fra la 3a e la 5a settimana di lattazione quelli che maggiormente riflettono la glicemia media delle settimane precedenti, quindi l’entità del deficit energetico e della riduzione delle condizioni nutrizionali degli animali Nella valutazione del benessere animale un altro aspetto fondamentale è rappresentato dall’individuazione di un eventuale status di stress cronico, ricorrendo ad esempio alla cortisolemia plasmatica. Tra gli indicatori di tipo fisiologico che sono sembrati molto importanti per la validazione dei modelli di valutazione del benessere animale, troviamo i parametri relativi a fatti infettivo-infiammatori (proteine positive della fase acuta, tra cui si ricordano l’aptoglobina e la ceruloplasmina, e quelle negative, specialmente le albumine e il colesterolo). Viceversa, l’utilizzo contemporaneo di una serie di indicatori di tipo biochimico-fisiologico, potrebbe fornire indicazioni per una valutazione più completa dei diversi aspetti del benessere. Ciò al fine di accertare se i suddetti parametri possano fungere da indicatori “assoluti” per ottenere indicazioni più oggettive delle reali condizioni di benessere/malessere degli animali allevati, costituendo pertanto un valido “riferimento” per i modelli di campo. Le informazioni prodotte con questo tipo di analisi possono fornire utili indicazioni sia in termini teorici di validazione del benessere (soprattutto per meglio precisare i vari aspetti che lo compongono e che confluiscono nel benessere globale) e sia in termini applicativi di miglior ridefinizione dei pesi relativi con cui aggregare i diversi aspetti del benessere nel modello di campo. Altri parametri fisiologici utilizzati come riferimento, e risultati molto importanti, sono il cortisolo e la fruttosamina. In particolare, i risultati ottenuti con questo approccio multivariato, applicato ai parametri biochimico-fisiologici hanno mostrato un parziale accordo fra la valutazione del benessere ottenuta con il modello SDIB. / The objective assessment of lactating dairy cows welfare is complex and controversial. The main concerns are the choice of the model indicators and the aggregation of obtained results in a global score that represents the effective welfare. According to these considerations, the animal welfare determination needs a scientific validation. Our results shows that the value of fructosamine between the third and fifth week in lactation strongly reflects the average blood glucose in the previous weeks, therefore it shows the energetic deficit and the low nutritional status. The determination of chronic stress is also fundamental to determine the animal welfare, it can be measured by the plasmatic cortisolemic value. Some indicators of inflammators-infective stress, such as the positive proteins of acute phase (aptoglobins and ceruloplasmin) and the negative ones (albumins and cholesterol) are some of the best physiological indicators capable of validating the determination of animal welfare. On the contrary, the contemporary utilisation of different biochemical-physiological indicators could give more comprehensive determination of animal welfare. The latter could be used as “absolute” indicators to obtain more objective indications of the real conditions of breeding animals' welfare, therefore, being a valid “reference” for field models. These kind of analysis can give useful theorical indication to validate the welfare (above all considering the global view of it), and also in practical applications capable of defining the relative scores aggregating several aspects of welfare in field models. Also cortisol and fructosamine are very important physiological indicators. Particularly, the results obtained by this multivariate approach, which was applied to biochemical and physiological parameters, showed partial agreement between the welfare evaluation by SDIB model.