This research aimed to describe the phenotypic characteristics of local hen varieties. The study sample consisted of twenty 18 week-old hens of the following types: Cemani, black Kedu, white Kedu, and Balinese (Olagan). They were randomly selected from the "Makukuhan" farm in Kedu Temanggung, Central Java Indonesia. The results, which were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, showed significant differences in the quantitative characteristics of body height, body length, and tarsometatarsus length. No significant differences were found in wing length, beak length, femur length, tibiotarsus length, or body weight. Qualitative characteristics of Cemani hens differed from those of black Kedu, white Kedu, and Balinese (Olagan) hens because of their predominantly black body color. The black Kedu hens share similarities with the white Kedu hens in the colors of the tongue, comb, eyeballs, and soles of the feet. In contrast, their beak color and skin color are similar to those of the Balinese (Olagan) hens. The white Kedu hens have predominantly white feathers, and the Balinese (olagan) hens have neither comb nor neck feathers.

Cow routines and behavioral responses are altered substantially following the installation of robot milking. The present study was designed to analyze the effect that switching from milking parlor to automatic milking system (AMS) had on the culling rate (due to various causes) of dairy cattle. For this purpose, culling records and causes for culling were tracked in 23 dairy farms in the Galicia region (NW Spain). The animals in these farms were monitored for 5 years. For the present study, that length of time was divided into three different stages, as follows: 2 years before switching from a milking parlor to AMS (stage 1), the 1st year following the implementation of AMS (stage 2) and the 2nd and 3rd years succeeding the implementation of AMS (stage 3). Cox models for survival analysis were used to estimate the time to culling due to different reasons during stage 1 in relation to stages 2 and 3. The data indicated that the risk of loss due to death or emergency slaughter decreased significantly following the installation of AMS. In contrast, the risk of culling due to low production, udder problems, infertility or lameness increased significantly. Low-production cows (such as cows in advanced lactation due to infertility) or sick cows (such as mastitic or lame cows) allegedly have a noticeable effect both on the performance and the amortization of the cost of AMS, which in turn would lead to a higher probability of elimination than in conventional systems.

The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the dairy cattle welfare in a population from the Galicia region (NW Spain) according to the Welfare Quality ® protocol guidelines. For this purpose, 37 dairy farms were randomly selected. The on-farm welfare was evaluated according to Welfare Quality ® guidelines. At principle level, the categorical classification indicated that regarding "good feeding" 5.4% (0%-13.1%) of the farms were classified as "excellent", 29.7% (14.3%-45.3%) "enhanced", 48.6% (31.7%-65.5%) "acceptable" and 16.2% (3.8%-28.7%) "not classified". As regards "good housing", 5.4% (0%-13.1%) were classified as "excellent", 64.9% (48.7%-81.0%) "enhanced" and 29.7% (14.3%-45.2%) "acceptable". 100% (100%-100%) were considered "acceptable" for the "good health" principle. Finally, for "appropriate behaviour" 2.7% (0-8.2%) was classified as "enhanced", 13.5% (1.9%-25.1%) "acceptable" and 83.8% (71.3%-96.2%) "not classified". Overall, according to the Welfare Quality ® protocol 94.6% (86.5%-100%) farms were classified as "acceptable", 2.7% (0-8.2%) as "enhanced" and 2.7% (0-8.2%) "not classified". In conclusion, farms from Galicia could only be considered as "acceptable" in terms of animal welfare, presenting many areas for improvement. The principle scored at its lowest has been "appropriate behaviour", presenting it as an issue not properly taken into the farmer consideration. Another warning aspect is the management of disease, marked on a bad score for "good health": As it seems, farmers should include new health-control plans providing better prevention of disease, and include anaesthetic and analgesic plans for dehorning.

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