The influence of the rearing period on intramammary infections in Swiss dairy heifers: A cross-sectional study

Welfare of dairy cows

This Scientific Opinion addresses a European Commission's mandate on the welfare of dairy cows as part of the Farm to Fork strategy. It includes three assessments carried out based on literature reviews and complemented by expert opinion. Assessment 1 describes the most prevalent housing systems for dairy cows in Europe: tie-stalls, cubicle housing, open-bedded systems and systems with access to an outdoor area. Per each system, the scientific opinion describes the distribution in the EU and assesses the main strengths, weaknesses and hazards potentially reducing the welfare of dairy cows. Assessment 2 addresses five welfare consequences as requested in the mandate: locomotory disorders (including lameness), mastitis, restriction of movement and resting problems, inability to perform comfort behaviour and metabolic disorders. Per each welfare consequence, a set of animal-based measures is suggested, a detailed analysis of the prevalence in different housing systems is provided, and subsequently, a comparison of the housing systems is given. Common and specific system-related hazards as well as management-related hazards and respective preventive measures are investigated. Assessment 3 includes an analysis of farm characteristics (e.g. milk yield, herd size) that could be used to classify the level of on-farm welfare. From the available scientific literature, it was not possible to derive relevant associations between available farm data and cow welfare. Therefore, an approach based on expert knowledge elicitation (EKE) was developed. The EKE resulted in the identification of five farm characteristics (more than one cow per cubicle at maximum stocking density, limited space for cows, inappropriate cubicle size, high on-farm mortality and farms with less than 2 months access to pasture). If one or more of these farm characteristics are present, it is recommended to conduct an assessment of cow welfare on the farm in question using animal-based measures for specified welfare consequences.

Alternative Practices in Organic Dairy Production and Effects on Animal Behavior, Health, and Welfare

Simple Summary

The basis of livestock farming is preventing disease and improving animal welfare and well-being. Organic dairy farmers have very few options for the treatment of diseases and for the mitigation of pain in dairy calves and cows. Calving may be stressful for first-lactation cows because they must adapt to many different situations when they are milking. Alternative therapies to improve animal welfare must be researched in organic livestock production to verify that their use improves animal well-being. This review provides a brief background on organic production systems, illustrates current understanding of pain management for disbudding dairy calves, and discusses managing transition heifer behaviors and udder health to improve organic livestock well-being.

Abstract

The number of organic dairy farms has increased because of the increased growth of the organic market, higher organic milk price, and because some consumers prefer to purchase products from less intensive production systems. Best management practices are expected from organic dairy farms to ensure animal health and milk production. Organic dairy producers typically transition from conventional systems to avoid chemicals and pesticides, enhance economic viability, improve the environment, and increase soil fertility. Organic dairy producers respect and promote a natural environment for their animals, is also an important component of animal welfare. Organic producers have few options to mitigate pain in dairy calves. In the United States, therapies to mitigate pain for disbudded organic dairy calves are regulated by the US National Organic Program. Organic producers regularly use naturally derived alternatives for the treatment of health disorders of dairy calves, heifers, and cows. Alternative natural products may provide an option to mitigate pain in organic dairy calves. Despite the reluctance to implement pain alleviation methods, some organic farmers have expressed interest in or currently implement plant-based alternatives. Efficacy studies of alternative remedies for organic livestock are needed to verify that their use improves animal welfare. Non-effective practices represent a major challenge for organic dairy animal welfare. The relationship between humans and animals may be jeopardized during milking because first-lactation cows may exhibit adverse behaviors during the milking process, such as kicking and stomping. The periparturient period is particularly challenging for first-lactation cows. Adverse behaviors may jeopardize animal welfare and reduce safety for humans because stressed heifers may kick off the milking unit, kick at milkers, and display other unwanted behaviors in the milking parlor. This may reduce milking efficiency, overall production, and ultimately reduce the profitability of the dairy farm. Positive animal welfare is a challenging balancing act between the three overlapping ethic concerns. Identifying animal welfare deficits in organic livestock production is the first step in capitalizing on these opportunities to improve welfare.

Effects of Pre-Parturient Iodine Teat Dip Applications on Modulating Aversive Behaviors and Mastitis in Primiparous Cows

Heifers and their human handlers are at risk for decreased welfare during the early lactation period. This experiment investigated pre-parturient teat dipping and parlor acclimation to reduce mastitis and aversive behaviors in early lactation heifers. Three weeks prior to calving, heifers were randomly assigned to receive either: (1) a weekly 1.0% iodine-based teat dip in the parlor (trained; n = 37) or (2) no treatment (control; n = 30). For the first 3 days of lactation, heifers were milked twice daily, and treatment-blinded handlers assessed behaviors and clinical mastitis. Aseptic quarter milk samples were collected within 36 h of calving and analyzed for pathogens. Control heifers had (OR ± SE) 2.2 ± 0.6 times greater (p < 0.01) odds of kicking during milking. Trained heifers had (OR ± SE) 1.7 ± 0.4 times greater (p = 0.02) odds of being very calm during milking, while control heifers had 2.2 ± 0.8 and 3.8 ± 2.1 times greater (p < 0.04) odds of being restless and very restless or hostile during milking, respectively. Quarters of control heifers had (OR ± SE) 5.4 ± 3.4 greater (p < 0.01) odds of intramammary Staphylococcus aureus infection, yet clinical mastitis was similar among treatments. The results indicate that teat dipping in the parlor weekly for 3 weeks before calving may alleviate some aversive milking behaviors and protect against early lactation S. aureus intramammary infections.

Risk and success factors for good udder health of early lactation primiparous dairy cows

We compared the management and housing of dairy heifers from calf to calving in herds that were very successful versus less successful in preventing mastitis in early lactation primiparous cows. This retrospective observational study included 170 Swedish dairy herds. Eligible herds were identified from the Swedish official milk recording scheme (SOMRS). Each herd had at least 60 cows per year, production data from 3 consecutive years, and at least 10 primiparous cows per year with their first milk recording 5 to 35 d after calving and their second milk recording 20 to 40 d after the first milk recording. In each herd, primiparous cows with a low (≤75,000 cells/mL) cow somatic cell count (CSCC) at both the first and second milk recording were categorized as low-low (LL); those with a high (>100,000 cells/mL) CSCC at both recordings were categorized as high-high (HH). Cows with high CSCC at the first recording and low at the second were categorized as high-low (HL). The annual proportions of LL, HL, and HH cows within each herd were calculated. Herds with an above-median proportion of LL, HL, or HH cows during the first year of a 3-yr selection period, and above the third quartile proportion of LL, HL, or HH cows, respectively, during the second and third year were identified. These herds (LL herds, n = 129; HL herds, n = 92; HH herds, n = 139) were contacted until a maximum of 60 herds per category had agreed to participate. Field technicians/veterinarians visited each herd once in the mid to late indoor season to collect data on housing and management of the heifers from birth to calving. Additional data were retrieved from the SOMRS. Associations between herd category (LL, HL, or HH) and variables collected were analyzed in 8 multivariable multinomial logistic regression submodels covering herd characteristics, milk-fed calves, heifers in early pregnancy, heifers in late pregnancy, calving and colostrum period, miscellaneous factors, summarized heifer housing data, and general health, culling, and fertility data. A final multivariable model was built from the results of the submodels and univariable analyses. The final model showed that having a standard operating procedure for colostrum feeding was more common in LL and HL herds than in HH herds; the mean bulk milk SCC and overall culling rate due to udder health was higher in HH herds than in LL and HL herds; and automatic milking was less common in LL herds than in HL and HH herds. Several herd and management variables differed between herd categories in the submodels. In conclusion, we identified several success factors for herds with good udder health among early lactation primiparous cows. This knowledge can be used to improve preventive measures in dairy herds to ensure sustainable and economic milk production.