Welfare + cattle lameness Flashcards

1
Q

How can we tell a cow is in pain?

A
  • Minimise pain by - reduce activity, lying down, reduce load, posture
  • Clinical signs - HR, RR, temp, food intake BW, mental status
  • Communicate pain = vocalisation + facial expression
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2
Q

What is seen with mobility of lame cattle?

A
  • Reduction in weight bearing of affected limbs
  • Arching of spine
  • Hanging / nodding head as walking
  • Shortened stride length
  • Adduct / Abduct hind limb
  • Paddling + shuffling on feet
  • Unwilling to walk
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3
Q

How much less milk does a lame cow give?

A
  • 270-574kg loss of milk per lactation
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4
Q

Why does DMI fall in lame cows?

A
  • Pain + reluctance to walk to feed barrier
  • Increase lying times
  • Reduced time spent eating
  • Less meals per day
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5
Q

How does lameness affect fertility?

A
  • Delayed cyclicity
  • Weak oestrus behaviour
  • Prolonged calving to 1st service
  • Prolonged calving to conception
  • Increased number serves per conception
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6
Q

How does lameness affect the 5 freedoms?

A
  1. Freedom from hunger and thirst = Reduced feed intakes
  2. Freedom from discomfort =
    -Expected to continue living in the herd
    -Housed concrete
    -Standing times around milking, feeding
    -Cubicles inadequate
    -Walk on farm tracks
  3. Freedom from pain injury and disease = Pain chronic and continuous
  4. Freedom to express normal behaviour = Social status changes bullying, competition for feed and cubicles
  5. Freedom from fear/ distress = Element of fear/distress associated with the diseased state
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7
Q

What are Defra welfare codes?

A
  • Very lame cattle should be off concrete in bedded pen
  • If lame cows don’t respond to Tx, vet should be called
  • If lame animal does not respond to Vet Tx, they should be culled
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8
Q

How can lameness be prevented / reduced?

A
  • Genetics
  • Housing
  • Nutrition
  • Foot trimming
  • Foot bathing
  • Educate, research
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9
Q

How should lameness be treated?

A
  • Early identification
  • Correct diagnosis + treatment
  • Pain management
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10
Q

How is early identification of lameness carried ot?

A

Mobility scoring

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11
Q

What affects lying times?

A
  • Overstocking
  • Cubicle number
  • Cubicle size
  • Condition of cubicles
  • Bedding
  • Milking routine
  • Feed systems
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12
Q

How is the cow comfort quotient worked out?

A

No. cows using cubicles correctly
______________________________________
No. cows interacting with cubicles

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13
Q
A
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