State Of Dairy Cattle Rajasthan Report

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

Page 51

Health care 15. The unit should have regular contact with a veterinary surgeon, a health plan should be documented, and the vet should be consulted whenever the best way to safeguard cow welfare is not clear
16. The herd should be thoroughly inspected each day in addition to observation at milking, any sick. injured, thin or obese cows treated appropriately (body condition scoring is useful for this), and the causes addressed. Particular causes for concern in dairy cows, which may be addressed by both management and genetic selection, are lameness, mastitis and reproductive, metabolic and behavioural disorders. In some areas parasites and other pests also cause serious problems.
17. Regular foot inspection and locomotion scoring should be used to check foot health, with foot trimming and other care used as appropriate.
18. All health and welfare assessments and outcomes should be recorded, as well as the results of all environmental controls.
Choice of species and breed, and breeding 19. It is likely that both good milk production and good welfare will be achieved by a combination of moderate genetic potential for yield with good feeding and management. Choice of species (Bos taurus, Bos indicus or hybrids) and breed, and genetic selection should not be predominantly for high milk production, as cows with high genetic yield potential suffer more in extreme weather conditions or if diet is suboptimal. Cows should instead be chosen, bred and managed for robustness, adaptation to the climate, resistance to parasites and diseases, and longevity. Criteria should include absence of health problems and other traits advantageous to biological fitness and good welfare such as fertility and ability to thrive on suitable diets. The aim should be to achieve an average lifespan of 8 years or preferably more (6 lactations or more).
20. Genetically modified animals, clones and descendants of clones should not be used.
21. Both breeding and choice of sire should favour production of calves of a size appropriate for ease of calving, with male calves suitable for rearing.
Calves 22. Management at calving should aim to achieve the comfort, health and welfare of both cow and calf. This will usually involve isolating the cow in a pen with dry bedding and inspecting her frequently to ensure calving proceeds normally. Calving should not be induced or accelerated mechanically for human convenience. If calving is slow but the calf is in the normal position for delivery, controlled traction may be used, but if this is not quickly successful, veterinary assistance should be obtained.