Animal welfare is a key component of the ecosystems services framework in mountain areas and represents a topic of growing concern among public opinion. This study was conducted to test at first whether standard welfare assessment protocols for dairy cattle, such as the Welfare Quality®, are able to identify critical farm in terms of welfare outcomes (animal-based measures) when applied to small-scale, traditional mountain farms. Since the standard protocol was deemed unsuitable, the EFSA protocol for small-scale dairy farms was used in both housed and pasture-based conditions in traditional mountain farms practicing the vertical transhumance during summer-time. As a third step, consumers’ attitudes and perspectives on animal welfare in mountain farms were also collected. Given the role of mountain farming in maintaining ecosystems and ensuring the delivery of public goods and services, the results of this study aim on the one hand to contribute towards the development of welfare assessment protocols fitted for the purpose and on the other hand to set the basis for an effective and transparent dialogue among stakeholders.
