Survey on housing, management and welfare of dairy cattle in tie-stalls in western Italian Alps

In the Alps, the traditional breeding system for dairy cattle is based on the alternation between a free ranging period on mountain ranges during the summer, and an indoor period in tie-stalls in the cold season. Several welfare issues may arise in tie-stall housing systems. We described the situation in 47 farms in three villages in Western Italy, trying to identify possible relationships among structural and management characteristics, animal health and behaviour traits. A long duration of the grazing periods, associated with frequent manure removal during the housing period, are probably key factors for limiting the occurrence of lameness. Teat trauma are more common in narrower stalls. Getting up behaviour is unnatural in most of the visited farms. Some lacks in the farmers' knowledge of animal behaviour was pointed out. Some structural and management characteristics are strictly related to geographic constraints. However, situation permitting, some expedients may be achieved for improving welfare levels.