And what is welfare in milk production? It depends, not least, on adequate nutrition for the species and the needs of each animal according to its production phase, and frequent care for the health of the entire herd. You can’t underestimate the importance of effective management, carried out by responsible and well-trained managers who can detect problems early on and resolve them immediately. 

So, follow the text below and find out how to provide adequate nutrition, carry out effective management and care for the health of the herd to ensure the well-being of dairy cattle!

The right nutrition 

In order to have a healthy diet, each bovine animal must receive the right amount of feed for its age and productive phase, taking into account the climate and season. Heifers, for example, have specific dietary requirements that must be strictly adhered to if they are to become productive when they grow up. 

Here are some important tips for providing adequate nutrition:

– Cattle should not be given antibiotics, ionophores, coccidiostats or other substances to promote growth, feed efficiency or milk production;

– Antibiotics should only be administered individually for the treatment of diseases and only with the advice of a veterinarian;

– From the first weeks of life, there should always be plenty of clean, quality water available to the animals; 

– As soon as they are born, calves should receive a minimum amount of colostrum to ensure they are protected against disease; 

– While dairy cows need to be fed quality pasture and forage, calves over 30 days old need a diet rich in fiber to stimulate rumen development;

– To reduce stress, the diet of cattle must be adapted to their needs in both summer and winter;

– It is essential to plan forage so that the animals also have quality food in the dry season or when there is little pasture. 

Management

It is impractical to guarantee the welfare of any farm animal without those in charge being trained to identify stress factors knowing how to deal with any situation promptly and effectively. For this reason, dairy farm management has a responsibility to provide adequate training for all employees. 

Here are some tips for good dairy farm management:

– Create an emergency action plan outlining the procedures to be followed in the event of fire, drought or flooding;

– Keep up-to-date records of animal husbandry, quarantine procedures and medication use, as well as records of diseases affecting the herd and mortality rates;

– Train caretakers to understand stress factors affecting cattle. 

Herd Health 

Successfully promoting cattle herd health requires drawing up an Animal Health Plan (AHP), which should be updated regularly under the guidance of a veterinarian. The AHP should include the practices and care to be taken with, for example, the animals’ hooves, which should be inspected at least once a year.

See other tips on PSA and herd health:

– The herd’s performance must be monitored constantly and attention must be paid to metabolic and infectious diseases and injuries caused by housing or handling;

– Animals suffering from diseases or injuries need to be treated immediately and, if necessary, euthanized;

– Replacement animals brought in from other sources must be quarantined before joining the herd;

– To assess the herd’s laminitis rate, the locomotion score can be used with biannual PSA records;

– Removal of supernumerary teats can be carried out until puberty with the use of pain medication;

– Hoof trimming can be done at up to 3 weeks of age, using heat cauterization and pain medication;

– Removal of horns should only be done by a veterinarian, using sedative or local anesthesia and anti-inflammatory drugs; 

– Tail docking is prohibited;

– Broom trimming is permitted;

– The farm must be prepared to carry out euthanasia when necessary: the procedure must be carried out by a trained employee or a veterinarian and the disposal of the carcass must meet local requirements and regulations.

In Asia, where animal production is a vital industry, following these procedures is crucial to ensure the sector’s safety and sustainability.

Moreover, biosafety is one of the necessary requirements for a company or property to receive the Certified Humane animal welfare certification, which goes beyond the aspects of humane species management. For more information on certification, visit Certified Humane Asia.

The Certified Humane standards establish specific rules for the rearing of different animal species, such as laying hens, broilers, swine, dairy and beef cattle, among others.

These guidelines are adapted to ensure that biosafety standards are maintained throughout production in Asia, where diverse climatic and environmental conditions require specific practices for each region.

Preventive biosafety actions require Asian producers to meet stringent requirements to eliminate the risks of animal contamination, preserve health, and ensure safety at every stage of production.

These practices should be combined with controlling the flow of animals between various life stages, training handlers, and implementing a quality management system.

Key practices include:

• Isolating the farm at a safe distance from potential vector sources;
• Fencing the property;
• Washing and sanitizing facilities and vehicles;
• Restricting visits;
• Implementing a sanitary void between each batch;
• Adapting the vaccination program to local conditions;
• Sanitary management measures;
• Isolating and treating sick animals;
• Using potable and treated water for animal feeding and hygiene;
• Strict quality control of feed ingredients;
• Proper treatment of waste and effluents;
• Appropriate disposal of facility waste and deceased animals.

When preventive biosafety measures are adopted in Asia, they can prevent or control outbreaks and epidemics, such as Avian Influenza (H5N1), Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), and COVID-19.

With the growing concern about disease transmission, farm activities must continue in a way that maintains necessary precautions and meets all the animals’ needs.

All biosafety criteria must be rigorously followed, along with meeting animal welfare requirements. Companies that implement these practices in Asia not only protect the health of their animals and workers but also ensure consumer safety and the quality of the products sold.

The importance of vaccines

Just like humans, animals also need vaccinations to become immune to specific diseases in the region.

This is one of the main sanitary management procedures that lead to biosafety in animal production.

Vaccines protect animals against diseases naturally occurring in the region where the herd is located, considering factors such as age, sex, species, and type of management.

Beef cattle

Vaccines for beef cattle are essential to prevent diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, such as foot-and-mouth disease and brucellosis.

Failures in vaccination can result in significant economic losses and a negative impact on animal health.

Poultry

Poultry also follows a rigorous vaccination program, adapted to each local epidemiological situation in Asia.

Diseases such as Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis are prevented through specific vaccination methods, such as oral or spray methods, which are widely applied in the region.

Swine and sheep

For swine and sheep, robust biosafety programs, including vaccination against diseases like classical swine fever and parvovirus, are vital to prevent outbreaks that could devastate production. Proper planning and correct application of these vaccines are essential to ensure herd health and food safety.

Biosafety in animal production is crucial to meet the requirements of Certified Humane certification, ensuring that the practices adopted are aligned with the highest international standards of animal welfare.

For more details on how to adapt your property to the required standards, visit Certified Humane Asia.