Table 2.
Descriptive analysis (median and range in percentage) of continuous welfare indicators in three Namibian beef production systems.
| Measure | Commercial (n = 17) | Semi-Commercial (n = 20) | Communal (n = 18) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thin cows | 2.5 (0–46.9) | 78.3 (25–100) | 100 (83.3–100) |
| Emaciated cows | 0 | 7.3 (0–40) | 83.9 (52.5–100) |
| Poor rumen fill | 0 (0–45.2) | 48.1 (14.3–100) | 78.9 (39.3–100) |
| Dirtiness | 0 (0–8.8) | 0 | 0 (0–16.7) |
| Swelling | 1.7 (0–8.2) | 3.7 (0–37.1) | 2.3 (0–13.3) |
| Hair loss | 0 (0–2.8) | 2.8 (0–16.7) | 5.3 (0–20) |
| Abrasion | 2.8 (0–12.5) | 5.6 (0–27.3) | 19 (1.8–40) |
| Multiple brands/wounds/cuts | 0.8 (0–3.6) | 2.8 (0–44.4) | 5.3 (0–87.5) |
| Broken tail | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Long/sharp horns | 2.5 (0–37) | 40.5 (10–96.6) | 61.8 (13.1–85) |
| Blindness | 0 (0–2.5) | 0 | 0 (0–1.3) |
| Ocular discharge | 0 (0–1.4) | 0 | 0 (0–1.3) |
| Nasal discharge | 0 (0–1.4) | 0 | 0 (0–1.3) |
| Diarrhea | 0.9 (0–12.9) | 0 (0–1.8) | 4.3 (0–25) |
| Lameness | 0 (0–3.9) | 0 (0–3.3) | 3.4 (0–16.7) |
| Dystocia | 0.8 (0–3.3) | 1 (0–10.0) | 1.4 (0–6.7) |
| Tick burden | 0 (0–6.8) | 1.4 (0–81.3) | 4.4 (0–35) |
| Fly burden | 0 (0–12.3) | 1.4 (0–61.5) | 4.5 (0–55) |
| Deaths from diseases | 0.7 (0–4.1) | 0 (0–2) | 0.4 (0–7.9) |
| Accidental deaths | 0.2 (0–1.6) | 0 (0–3) | 0.1 (0–16) |
| Culling for health | 0.2 (0–2.3) | 0 (0–3.1) | 0 (0–3.3) |
| Predation/snake bite deaths | 0.4 (0–9) | 0 (0–4.1) | 4 (0–20) |
| *Nutritional deaths | 0 (0–3.2) | 6.6 (0–50) | 1.1 (0–10) |
| *Poisoning deaths | 0 | 0 (0–2.4) | 0 (0–0.3) |
| *Reproduction deaths | 0.2 (0–0.8) | 0 (0–4) | 0.2 (0–2.6) |
| Annual mortality rate | 2.4 (0–15.5) | 11.3 (0–26.9) | 11.7 (2.2–26) |
| Fearful/Agitate | 3 (0–25) | 6.2 (0–19.4) | 7.7 (0–17.5) |
| Fall/lie | 5.8 (0–17.7) | 3.4 (0–26.7) | 5 (0–17.5) |
| Stumble | 1.4 (0–4.9) | 0 (0–40) | 0 (0–14.3) |
| Run exit | 3.8 (0–16.9) | 1 (0–20) | 0.8 (0–15) |
Highest median(s) for each category is in bold (if >0). See Appendix A for description of how each measure was assessed. *Nutritional deaths included weight loss and mineral deficiency (e.g., phosphate) deaths. *Poisoning deaths were plant poisonings and other poisonings (e.g., urea). *Reproduction related deaths included dystocia, retained placenta, and vaginal prolapse complications.