Lecture 29

Question 1

What are the different types of dairy cattle marketing and welfare depending on the country?

5 pts

Answer 1

• Canada: regulated, quota system
• USA: open, competitive market
• Overall condition of cull cows is better in Canada
• North America: cull cows are shipped through auction yards - high incidence of lame/downer cows
• EU: cull cows must go directly to slaughter yard

Question 2

What are some recommendations for reducing lameness in dairy cattle?

7 pts

Answer 2

• Routinely observe for lameness
• Ensure alleys are cleaned daily
• Stalls are comfortable, cows are using them
• Minimize exposure to concrete floors
• Trim hooves as needed (2x year)
• Balanced ration - avoid large amounts of concentrate
• Use a foot bath and change daily

Question 3

What are some risk factors for lameness?

4 pts

Answer 3

• Poor comfort, abnormal lying
• Increased standing time
• Poor nutrition, low body score
• Head lunge impediments

Question 4

Why is rubber flooring better than concrete for dairy cattle?

5 pts

Answer 4

• Longer strides, higher stride height
• More overlap, shorter triple support time
• Faster gait and lower gait score vs concrete
• Lame cows showed greater gait improvement on rubber than non-lame cows
• More secure footing

Question 5

Why is comfort important for dairy cattle?

3 pts

Answer 5

• Lying time is correlated with increased milk production
• When lying, blood flow to udder increases 28%
• Increased time standing is related to lameness and poor hoof health

Question 6

What are aspects of stall design to consider to increase comfort for dairy cattle?

4 pts

Answer 6

• more time spent lying down in large comfort stalls vs concrete tie stalls
• Hock lesions - most common in mattresses, least common on sand
• Udder health - sand is cleaner (fewer bacteria), than sawdust, less chance of teat contact and mastitis
• Neck rail - prevents cows from standing in the stall, but reduces defecation, helps keep stalls clean

Question 7

What are the differences between calf housing options?

3 pts

Answer 7

• Housing individually (hutches) - reduces disease transmissiong, aggression, feed competition, cross sucking
• Small groups - allows increased movement and social interaction
• Large groups - social competition increases, increased risk of disease

Question 8

What are the requirements for calf housing?

6 pts

Answer 8

• Calves must have a bed that provides comfort, insulation, warmth, dryness and traction
• Bare concrete is not acceptable
• Housing must allow calves to easily stand up, lie down, turn around, adopt normal resting postures, and have visual contact with other calves
• House unweaned calves individually or in well managed groups of less than 10 calves
• Provide calves with an oppurtunity to exercise and engage in normal social behaviour
• Position hutches to minimize environmental impacts (e.g., out of the wind, facing south, shaded areas)

Question 9

True or false: early social housing is known to benefit cognitive development

1 pt

Answer 9

true