 systematically determine whether

various factors potentially affecting

dairy cow welfare are beneficial or
constitute a potential hazard or risk.
 hazard that has a serious effect on
just a few animals is not a major
welfare problem for those
individuals
 i) metabolic and reproductive
disorders,
 ii) udder disorders,
 iii) leg and locomotion problems
 iv) behaviour, fear and pain.
Welfare concepts and assessment
on dairy cow
When choosing methods for
keeping and managing animals
in order to protect these animals
against mistreatment and poor
welfare, it is necessary to know
how their welfare is affected by
the various methodologies
 Animal‘s health and biological
functioning.
 Animal‘s ability to live a natural life.
 Degree to which the animal
experiences aversive or positive
feelings, such as pain, fear or pleasure.
 all animals have needs that drive
their activity programs with the
function of maintaining internal
homeostasis and regulating
interaction with the environment.
• To breathe air of sufficient quality
– sufficient oxygen and a low level of
noxious gases (breakdown of animal
faeces or dust).
• To have appropriate sensory
input
– Very bright lights, very loud noises and
certain other stimuli, including fear
pheromones, can also cause poor welfare.
Cows also need to avoid too much sensory
input and too little sensory input.
To rest and sleep
- Adult cattle usually sleep for about 4
hours a day and usually while lying
down
- Cattle rest for about 12 hours a day
and adequate rest is important to
prevent fatigue and to maintain
normal physiological functioning
(e.g. normal secretion of growth
hormone)
To exercise
Exercise is needed for normal bone and
muscle development and to keep the
cattle in good condition
exercise helps animals respond to stress
Exercise can be difficult with some types
of floors (e.g. floors that are too slippery
or too hard) or if there is too small a space
allowance.
• Drinking
– Lactating cows, the temperature is high, Sick cows
have a very high demand for water.
– If water is not available, lactating, over-heated and
sick cows will become dehydrated earlier than
other cows.
– free access to water is of importance for cows fed
diets containing excess of potentially toxic
substances that need to be excreted by the kidneys
or when diets are fed to manipulate cation-anion
balance.
– drink water without toxins or pathogens
• Nutrients
– Food provides for the needs of nutrient intake, oral
satisfaction, normal digestive function and carrying
out foraging behaviour.
– A variety of macro- and micro-nutrients are needed
by cows for maintenance and growth.
– Some diets are adequate in nutrient content but
lead to digestion anomalies and pain or other poor
welfare, whilst other diets have such effects because
they have the wrong balance.
– In ruminants, such as cows, a diet composition
leading to normal rumination is needed.
 Foraging behaviour

Foraging behaviour accounts for a large

proportion (up to 80%) of the daily activity
of cows kept in a semi-natural situation
Cows are highly motivated to work for
access to foraging material like straw. In
the absence of an appropriate foraging
environment, welfare can be poor.
 To explore
• Cows have a natural tendency to explore
their environment and they show a fair
amount of curiosity.
• Exploration to be prepared for effective
food acquisition, response to danger from
predators, attack by conspecifics and
response to other adverse conditions or
needs.
• Exploration will be difficult if there is
insufficient space available.
To have appropriate social interactions
Cows separated from the herd, apart from
when calving, show strong negative
reactions.
a restriction in access to important
resources, such as the number of feeding
places, results in increased levels of
aggression.
Cows recognise other individuals but there
are limitations to the number that can be
recognised.
To avoid fear and other negative experiences

- As a prey species, cattle have evolved a

number of mechanisms associated with
predator detection and avoidance. The
biological functioning of cows is strongly
adapted to promote security and to
maximise the chance of recognition of
danger and escape from it.
- Cows respond to sudden events and
approaches by humans or other
animals perceived to be potentially
dangerous with substantial sympathetic
nervous system and hypothalamic-
pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) changes.
- Fear is a major factor in the life of cows
and has a great effect on their welfare.
To perform maintenance and
eliminatory behaviour
Cows need to groom in that they have
to keep the body surface free of
harmful substances or organisms.
They select lying places that are dry
and comfortable when possible and
this behaviour tends to keep the body
clean.
 To have an appropriate thermal
environment
• Cows need to maintain their body
temperature within a tolerable range
• If the ambient temperature is too high or too
low, or the humidity is too high, welfare can
be poor
• cows adopt positions that maximise the
surface area from which heat can be lost and
will attempt to drink.
 Reproduction and maternal
functions
 Cows which are sexually mature are motivated
to show sexual behaviours which in dairy herds
is often addressed to other cows.
 Females in a late stage of pregnancy also show
clear signs of having specific needs at this time.
 If the calf has been allowed to stay with the cow
for some days after calving, the cow shows a
strong negative reaction to the separation.
 all cows need to minimise contact with pathogens
that might cause disease with anatomical
adaptations and physiological responses.
 Cows which are sick need an environment that
may be different as regards temperature, food,
good lying surfaces and possibilities for rest and
avoidance of disturbance from that needed by
healthy cows.
 Cows need to avoid ingesting toxic substances,
even if they cannot recognise them all, and to
react appropriately if harmful chemical agents are
detected within their bodies or their environment.
 These substances can be in food, water, air,
bedding, etc.
 Cows need to avoid any environmental impact
or pathological conditions that cause pain and
injury.
 In cattle husbandry, dehorning, tail-docking,
excessive aggression, udder disorders, leg and
foot disorders are some examples of sources of
pain.