{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]],"date-time":"2026-09-14T13:11:03Z","timestamp":1789391463348,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,28]],"date-time":"2026-03-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774656000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia","award":["451-03-34\/2026-03\/200143"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["451-03-34\/2026-03\/200143"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Sheep welfare outcomes vary depending on production systems, breeds, and environmental conditions. This study examined the effects of extensive, semi-extensive, and semi-intensive sheep production systems on animal welfare in Serbia, using the AWIN Welfare Protocol to evaluate 30 farms. Welfare indicators were categorised into resource-based, management-based, and animal-based metrics. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in space allowance among the production systems (p &gt; 0.05). This suggests that the space provided was adequate for semi-intensive farms and suitable for both semi-extensive and extensive farms. However, management practices showed significant variations (p &lt; 0.05), indicating diverse impacts on sheep welfare. No ocular discharge or stereotypic behaviours were observed, while respiratory issues, social withdrawal, and excessive itching were found to have a very low prevalence across all farms. The primary welfare concern identified in the extensive farms was the use of painful mutilations. Semi-extensive and semi-intensive farms had significantly higher rates of tail docking (p &lt; 0.05) and poorer fleece cleanliness. These findings highlight the necessity of addressing the root causes of poor welfare to improve sheep welfare standards. Therefore, achieving sustainable welfare outcomes requires an integrated approach that combines genetic suitability, adequate housing, and effective management practices.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci13040329","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]],"date-time":"2026-03-30T08:22:36Z","timestamp":1774858956000},"page":"329","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Comparative On-Farm Welfare Assessment of Sheep in Extensive, Semi-Extensive, and Semi-Intensive Systems"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9259-6881","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sne\u017eana","family":"Paska\u0161","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7884-4105","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ivan","family":"Pihler","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marija","family":"Paji\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7801-1365","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elmin","family":"Tari\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Milo\u0161","family":"Dimitrijevi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-1478-3582","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Katarina","family":"Paji\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8724-5892","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zsolt","family":"Becskei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"97","article-title":"Primary factors influencing sheep welfare in intensive and extensive farming systems\u2014A review article","volume":"26","author":"Nedeva","year":"2020","journal-title":"Bulg. 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