Dairy Cow Welfare in Automatic Milking Systems
نویسنده
چکیده
INTRODUCTION With any housing or feeding system employed for dairy cattle, careful consideration should be made to both the individual’s and herd’s well-being. Providing optimal welfare for dairy cows is a multifaceted and challenging task. Factors such as good herd management, adequate barn environment, automated milking system (AMS) management, social dynamics of the herd, and human-animal interactions are just a few items that impact the overall welfare of the animal (Wiktorsson and Sørensen, 2004). Production decisions must balance what is feasible for the individuals managing the dairy as well as what is best for the animals. Although it should not be a determining factor in husbandry decisions, public attitude and perception regarding the dairy industry cannot be ignored and have the potential to influence laws and regulations.
منابع مشابه
An Investigation of Automatic Milking Systems and their Impact on Dairy Cow Welfare
Farmers and researchers are interested in improving cow welfare in the dairy industry. One area of research involves use of automatic milking systems (AMS) on farms. These robotic systems have been shown to be effective in decreasing the prevalence of lameness in the herd (Leach et al., 2012) and decreasing cow stress (Dijkstra et al., 2012). According to Jacobs & Siegford (2012), cow wellbeing...
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