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Problems associated with cattle welfare
Author(s) -
Gregory Neville
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inp.d4505
Subject(s) - welfare , heel , animal welfare , mastitis , hygiene , veterinary medicine , medicine , colostrum , dairy cattle , milk production , udder , business , zoology , biology , economics , ecology , pathology , market economy , anatomy , antibody , immunology
Recent studies have highlighted six welfare issues affecting cattle: assessing prognosis in cows with uterine prolapse; methods for feeding calves colostrum; understanding the relationship between floor hygiene, slurry heel and mastitis; managing slippery floors; avoiding foot disorders caused by newly laid concrete; and genetic antagonisms between production performance and cow welfare. This article describes how these problems might be prevented and discusses the role of the veterinary surgeon in educating farmers on how to manage issues affecting cattle welfare appropriately.