Physiological and behavioral biomarkers of cattle welfare

The aim of the study is to analyze literature data on cattle welfare. Analytical methods for collecting information were studied using 72 scientific publications by domestic and foreign authors related to cattle welfare. The search for scientific papers was carried out by working with such electronic databases as Scopus, Web of Science, Elibrary, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Nation Library of Medicine, SpringerLink, Wiley online Library, etc. The main methods for identifying welfare in agriculture are associated with behavioral and physiological indicators, including biomarkers of various types (cortisol, oxytocin, oxidative stress, etc.). Studies aimed at finding biomarkers to determine animal welfare confirm their need in breeding programs taking into account productivity and health. Behavioral biomarkers are key in assessing animal welfare and directly depend on stress. Stress affects productivity and disrupts many functions (nervous, reproductive, immune, etc.). This is why there is interest in the temperament of animals and its connection with productivity. Ideal conditions for animals include those in which they do not experience thirst, hunger, discomfort, pain, injuries, or illnesses. Methods for assessing the welfare of animals are in demand, so they are constantly being improved. In modern animal husbandry, it is necessary to correlate temperament with metabolic, genetic, immunological, production and reproductive parameters that indicate the impact on the economic parameters of cattle management. To increase the population of individuals with the desired temperament, it is necessary to standardize the methods of temperament assessment and make them a mandatory element of selection and veterinary expertise, as well as conduct further research aimed at understanding the integrated use of various biomarkers to assess animal welfare.