References
Abstract
While housing dairy cows is commonplace, it restricts various freedoms which are associated with free roaming and grazing. It is important to limit these restrictions as far as possible, in order to safeguard their welfare, and also for them to reach their health and production potential.
Every cow deserves a comfortable bed, a safe walking surface, stress-free access to feed and space to have a little ‘me time’. Cows are hierarchical herd animals, and the ability to avoid stress by using their space to get away from more dominant animals should be a critical element of their housed environment (Templeton et al, 2014).
It is reasonable to suggest that cows should ideally be outside, grazing forage and in the happy but socially-distanced company of their herd mates. In fact, in the UK, there is a wide spectrum of dairy farm systems, including all-year-housed, all-year-calving high-production systems on the one hand, and on the other hand, block-calving grazing herds, some of which include out-wintering (no housing at all). Most herds, however, have at least some winter housing, and many herds still follow a traditional all-year-calving pattern, but with grazing during summer months and housing during winter.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting UK-VET Companion Animal and reading some of our peer-reviewed content for veterinary professionals. To continue reading this article, please register today.