State Of Dairy Cattle Rajasthan Report

Author(s): Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations
Publisher: Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations

Page 50

3. Housing should provide bedded lying areas. If these are cubicles, they should be large enough for comfort, without restricting rails, and their number should be more than the group size.
4. Housing should provide natural lighting and ventilation and an uninterrupted, dark resting period at night. Extreme temperatures and humidities should be prevented. Good air quality should be ensured la useful guide is that if air quality is unpleasant for humans it is also likely to be a problem for cattle).
5. Cows should spend as much of the day as possible outdoors, with as much access to natural vegetation as possible, unless extreme weather conditions mean that housing is beneficial. Cows should not have to walk long distances, and the ground should not be very rough or stony, to avoid foot damage. When conditions do not allow access to vegetation, outdoor areas should provide dry ground.
6. Cows outdoors need shelter from adverse weather and protection from predators and other sources of stress such as aircraft.
Husbandry 7. Handling facilities such as races, forcing gates and crushes should be designed and managed to minimise stress. Cattle should be moved by low-stress methods, using implements such as flags and rattles rather than sticks. Electric goads should not be used.
8. Milking should be frequent enough to prevent discomfort but not so frequent as to cause excessive physiological demand on the cow or to allow insufficient time for eating and resting. Twice a day is normally appropriate. Time waiting in gathering pens before milking should be minimised. If robotic milking is used cows should also have feed and water elsewhere.
9. Milking equipment must be well maintained, and good hygiene is needed during milking, to avoid discomfort to the cow and injury or infection of the udder.
10. Bovine Somatotropin (BST), also known as Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH), should not be used, as it has negative effects on animal health.
11. Cows should have adequate quantities of wholesome feed for their nutritional and behavioural needs, including at least 10% of long fibre roughage to ensure normal rumen function. As much of this as possible should be obtained from natural vegetation. At other times, palatable fibrous feed such as silage, grass or hay should be available ad libitum. Changes in the diet, such as increased use of grain, should be introduced gradually. Animal products (except milk) should not be permitted in the diet, including meat and bone meal.
12. Cows should have ad libitum access to clean drinking water, with sufficient trough space and flow rate to ensure this.
13. Caretakers should be trained and assessed for competence in looking after cattle and should manage the herd to avoid fear and distress. They should be in sufficient number to ensure good animal care.
14. Contingency plans should be in place for emergencies such as breakdown of equipment vital to the animals (e.g. milking, feeding or ventilation equipment), fire or flood. Emergency sources should be available of power, water etc.