Good health is essential for good welfare but they are not the same thing. An animal in good health can suffer poor welfare. In the long-term, poor welfare will contribute to health problems.
What steps will ensure good welfare for my cows?
‘The five freedoms’ form a comprehensive framework for safeguarding cow welfare within the constraints of a profitable dairy industry.
- Freedom from hunger and thirst – with access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
- Freedom from discomfort – an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
- Freedom from pain, injury or disease – prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
- Freedom to express normal behaviour – sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
- Freedom from fear and distress – conditions and treatment (e.g. stockmanship) which prevent mental suffering.
What are the benefits of ensuring good animal welfare?
We are ethically obliged to ensure a good standard of welfare for the animals in our care. In some cases, this will clearly be associated with a cost (e.g. providing sand or straw in addition to mattresses/mats in cubicles). However, good welfare has many benefits such as:
- Increased milk production
- Reduction in production diseases (e.g. mastitis and lameness) and improved longevity
- Increased consumer confidence in dairy products
- Prevention of disease in both humans and animals
What are the major indicators of poor welfare?
The indicators are many and varied including:
- Behavioural changes (these form the first line of defence)
- Lameness disorders and injury
- Mastitis
- Reproductive and metabolic disorders
- Behavioural disorders
Lameness and mastitis are major welfare problems as they cause pain. Lameness is the most overlooked and underestimated welfare problem. Farms with a high incidence of lameness (above 10%) need to improve their housing conditions, genetic selection and management practices.