Welfare + cattle lameness

Question 1

How can we tell a cow is in pain?

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

What is seen with mobility of lame cattle?

Answer 2

• 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

Question 3

How much less milk does a lame cow give?

Answer 3

• 270-574kg loss of milk per lactation

Question 4

Why does DMI fall in lame cows?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

How does lameness affect fertility?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

How does lameness affect the 5 freedoms?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What are Defra welfare codes?

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

How can lameness be prevented / reduced?

Answer 8

• Genetics
• Housing
• Nutrition
• Foot trimming
• Foot bathing
• Educate, research

Question 9

How should lameness be treated?

Answer 9

• Early identification
• Correct diagnosis + treatment
• Pain management

Question 10

How is early identification of lameness carried ot?

Answer 10

Mobility scoring

Question 11

What affects lying times?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

How is the cow comfort quotient worked out?

Answer 12

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