Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
V Boyer, E. Vasseur
Summary: The design of stall-based housing systems affects the welfare of dairy cows by influencing their ability to rest and move comfortably. The length of the chain and width of the stall are important factors in modulating cow comfort and injury prevalence. Current industry recommendations are not consistently followed in commercial farms, but compliance seems to have improved in the last decade.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
B. Foris, L. G. Mangilli, J. M. C. Van Os, M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, J. A. Fregonesi, D. M. Weary
Summary: Cows sometimes defecate while lying down, especially when early in gestation or spending more time lying. Overstocking leads to higher stall use and displacement but does not increase defecating while recumbent frequency.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Annabelle Beaver, Emma Strazhnik, Marina A. G. von Keyserlingk, Daniel M. Weary
Summary: The study found that cows prefer lying in more open spaces, but traditional stalls can improve cow hygiene. Flexible partitions can enhance cleanliness while also improving comfort.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mousaab Alrhmoun, Thomas Zanon, Ioanna Poulopoulou, Katja Katzenberger, Matthias Gauly
Summary: The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors for skin alterations in dairy farms with different housing systems. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 204 farms in South Tyrol, Northern Italy, and logistic regression models were used to identify the risk factors for neck and leg skin alterations. The study found that tie stalls had a higher prevalence of skin lesions on the neck and hock, while soft-based stall mattresses and certain bedding materials reduced the prevalence of skin alterations. Access to pasture also reduced the prevalence of skin alterations regardless of the housing system.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Romain Lardy, Alice de Boyer des Roches, Jacques Capdeville, Renaud Bastien, Luc Mounier, Isabelle Veissier
Summary: Maladjusted cubicles for dairy cattle may lead to skin alterations, lameness, and dirtiness in cows. This study aimed to refine and complete recommendations for cubicle design by analyzing the association between cubicle properties and dimensions relative to cow size, and the prevalence of skin alterations, lameness, and dirtiness. The risk factors identified should be further validated and used to update the International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering recommendations.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
V Boyer, E. Edwards, M. F. Guiso, S. Adam, P. Krawczel, A. M. de Passille, E. Vasseur
Summary: This study compared the effects of different width tiestalls on the lying behavior of lactating dairy cows, finding that cows in double stalls extended their hindlimbs more, intruded neighboring stalls less, and positioned their hindlimbs inside their own stall more often. Double stalls also reduced the frequency of contact with stall hardware.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Claire S. Wegner, Emma Ternman
Summary: Conventional dairy farming practices often separate calves from their dams early on. Cow-calf contact (CCC) systems provide an alternative rearing solution that allows natural behaviors like suckling and bonding. This study aimed to assess the lying behaviors of lactating cows with and without access to a CCC area and the use of freestalls and lying patterns of cows and calves over a 14-week suckling period. The results showed that CCC did not affect daily lying time or lying bout frequency, and lying behaviors were influenced by lactation stage and parity.
APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Grzegorz Grodkowski, Marcin Golebiewski, Jan Slosarz, Kinga Grodkowska, Piotr Kostusiak, Tomasz Sakowski, Kamila Puppel
Summary: Consumers are increasingly choosing organic farming products because they believe that organic farms do not use pesticides or antibiotics and that animals are provided with the best living conditions. This review discusses the comparison between organic and conventional dairy cattle housing systems in terms of welfare assessment, breed selection, and product quality. It has been shown that cows kept in organic systems usually have better welfare compared to conventional breeding, but conventional farms can also provide better animal welfare through the use of pasture grazing. The taste of milk is affected by pasture feeding, but this depends on consumer preference.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. Matallah, N. M'Hamdi, F. Matallah, Z. Bounouala
Summary: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of housing type on the welfare of Holstein dairy cows in northeast Algeria. The results showed significant differences between the two types of housing in most studied criteria, but important management failures were observed in both housing types.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
W. J. McFarlane, C. B. Winder, T. F. Duffield, D. F. Kelton, C. A. Bauman, S. L. Croyle, D. L. Renaud
Summary: Understanding how downer cattle are managed by Canadian dairy producers in 2015 revealed associations between herd and farmer demographics, such as geographic region, age, farm size, and education, with the care and management practices adopted. These results could serve as a benchmark for evaluating current practices and identifying areas for improvement.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Y. Gomez, M. Cockburn, A-K Hankele, L. Gygax, M. Zaehner, E. Hillmann, P. Savary
Summary: Milking stall dimensions have an impact on cow comfort and milk yield, but do not significantly affect other behaviors, physiological parameters, and udder health.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Cora Okkema, Temple Grandin
Summary: Physiological udder edema is a noninfectious metabolic disorder in dairy cattle that may be influenced by genetics, nutrition, oxidative stress, and physiological changes. It negatively impacts the productive life and milk production of dairy cows, as well as increases the risk of secondary diseases. Methods to manage udder edema include providing specific diets, selecting for lower milk production genetic lines, and ensuring an adequate intake of antioxidants in the diet.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. Palacio, A. Zambelis, S. Adam, R. Bergeron, D. Pellerin, D. Haley, T. J. DeVries, E. Vasseur
Summary: In a previous study, a standardized cow comfort assessment tool was used to evaluate 60 Quebec dairy farms and establish a benchmark. The objective of a follow-up study was to reassess a subset of farms that were expected to benefit the most from recommended changes and determine the impact on cow comfort. The results showed that implementing recommended stall modifications improved cow comfort, highlighting the importance of routine reassessment in welfare improvement strategies.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
T. Lindena, S. Hess
Summary: Contrary to popular belief, larger dairy farms are not necessarily associated with poorer animal welfare. This study found a large variation in animal welfare levels across all herd size classes. Other variables, along with herd size, also have a small effect on animal welfare levels.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Cassandra B. Tucker, Margit Bak Jensen, Anne Marie de Passille, Laura Hanninen, Jeffrey Rushen
Summary: Lying down is crucial for dairy cow welfare, as cows are highly motivated to lie down and may exhibit indicators of frustration when unable to do so. Environmental factors and health conditions play a significant role in influencing lying time, and the implications on welfare remain complex and multifaceted. More research is needed to fully understand the relationship between lying behavior and animal welfare.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. Fournel, S. Godbout, P. Ruel, A. Fortin, K. Duquette-Lozeau, V Letourneau, M. Genereux, J. Lemieux, D. Potvin, C. Cote, C. Duchaine, D. Pellerin
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. Fournel, S. Godbout, P. Ruel, A. Fortin, M. Genereux, C. Cote, C. Landry, D. Pellerin
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Villettaz Robichaud, J. Rushen, A. M. de Passille, E. Vasseur, D. Haley, D. Pellerin
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Villettaz Robichaud, J. Rushen, A. M. de Passille, E. Vasseur, K. Orsel, D. Pellerin
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Marianne Villettaz Robichaud, Anthony Pic, Hector Delgado, Steve Adam, Rene Lacroix, Doris Pellerin, Elsa Vasseur
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Duplessis, D. Pellerin, C. L. Girard, D. E. Santschi, H. Soyeurt
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Daniela M. Melendez, Sonia Marti, Luigi Faucitano, Derek B. Haley, Timothy D. Schwinghamer, Karen S. Schwartzkopf-Genswein
Summary: Lactate is a metabolite used as an indicator of muscle fatigue in animal research. The study aimed to assess the relationship between L-lactate concentrations measured using a Lactate Scout+ analyzer and a traditional lactate assay colorimetric kit. While correlations varied over time points, the overall weak correlation suggests the Lactate Scout+ analyzer is not a suitable alternative for measuring L-lactate in transported cattle.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Melissa Duplessis, Liliana Fadul-Pacheco, Debora E. Santschi, Doris Pellerin
Summary: The analysis compared mineral concentrations in cow diets with recommendations, showing that phosphorus was fed closest to requirements, but other minerals were often overfed. Precision feeding for phosphorus is important for dairy production sustainability, but efforts should be made to limit overfeeding of trace minerals for environmental resiliency.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. H. Conboy, C. B. Winder, C. Medrano-Galarza, S. J. LeBlanc, D. B. Haley, J. H. C. Costa, M. A. Steele, D. L. Renaud
Summary: The study evaluated the association between feeding behavior data collected from preweaning group-housed calves fed via automated milk feeders and the detection of neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD), bovine respiratory disease (BRD), and general disease. Calves with BRD, NCD, or general disease showed specific changes in milk consumption, drinking speed, and visits to the automated milk feeder, indicating potential use of feeding behavior data as a preliminary tool for disease detection.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. Binggeli, H. Lapierre, E. Charbonneau, D. R. Ouellet, D. Pellerin
Summary: This research aimed to evaluate the economic and environmental effects of balancing dairy rations for metabolizable protein or 3 essential amino acids in different regions of Canada. The study found that balancing rations for essential amino acids rather than metabolizable protein could potentially increase net incomes and reduce environmental impact on Canadian dairy farms.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Schinwald, K. Creutzinger, A. Keunen, C. B. Winder, D. Haley, D. L. Renaud
Summary: The objective of this prospective cohort study was to determine the effect of an abnormal fecal consistency score on weight gain and mortality in male Holstein calves and to identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of an abnormal fecal consistency score. The study found that the proportion of days with diarrhea significantly decreased weight gain and increased the risk of mortality and antibiotic treatment. Arrival weight and calf source were important predictors of abnormal fecal consistency occurrence.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. Binggeli, H. Lapierre, S. Lemosquet, D. R. Ouellet, D. Pellerin
Summary: This study evaluated four feed evaluation models (FEM) in predicting daily milk protein yield (MPY) in dairy cows, with NorFor model demonstrating the best predictive abilities. The research also found that the use of research models in commercial settings yield acceptable predictions, with within-herd responses varying similarly across the four tested models.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
D. Warner, G. M. Dallago, O. W. Dovoedo, R. Lacroix, H. A. Delgado, R. I. Cue, K. M. Wade, J. Dubuc, D. Pellerin, E. Vasseur
Summary: This study conducted a lifetime cost-benefit analysis based on production and health records to explore different culling decisions among farmers in the dairy industry. The results showed that considering lifetime cumulative costs and revenues is crucial for identifying low-profitable cows at an earlier lactation, and solely focusing on current lactation costs and revenues can lead to an incorrect assessment of profitability. By monitoring cumulative costs and revenues, farmers can identify low-profitable cows at an earlier lactation and increase the productive lifespan and profitability of their herds by keeping the most profitable cows.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Joanne Marshall, Derek Haley, Lena Levison, David F. Kelton, Cynthia Miltenburg, Steven Roche, Todd F. Duffield
Summary: This study investigated the involvement of bovine veterinarians in Ontario, Canada, in dairy cull cow management decisions and their perspectives on welfare issues and best management practices for cull dairy cows. The findings showed that dairy veterinarians desire greater involvement in cull cow management and believe that their knowledge and decision-making tools can improve the economic and welfare outcomes of culling decisions for dairy producers.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. Palacio, A. Zambelis, S. Adam, R. Bergeron, D. Pellerin, D. Haley, T. J. DeVries, E. Vasseur
Summary: In a previous study, a standardized cow comfort assessment tool was used to evaluate 60 Quebec dairy farms and establish a benchmark. The objective of a follow-up study was to reassess a subset of farms that were expected to benefit the most from recommended changes and determine the impact on cow comfort. The results showed that implementing recommended stall modifications improved cow comfort, highlighting the importance of routine reassessment in welfare improvement strategies.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)