Dairy Cow Health and Welfare
Why is this research important?
Diseases and compromised welfare negatively affect cows’ production and reproduction performance and therefore seriously impact the sustainability of the dairy production system. The transition period, encompassing the late dry and early lactation period is key in determining subsequent dairy cow performance. Transition cow diseases and endemic regulatory and non-regulatory infectious diseases of dairy herds cause substantial economic and welfare issues, can potentially affect food security and can also impact our ability to export Irish dairy products internationally.
What the research tells us
Teagasc with the support of Dairy Research Ireland (Dairy Levy) is conducting research in the areas of dairy herd health (transition cow disease and endemic infectious diseases), dairy cow welfare and biosecurity.
Dairy herd health
Infectious disease, metabolic disease, lameness and mastitis all have significant impacts on animal health and welfare. In the current climate of sustainable farming it is more important than ever that herd health is prioritised to maximise the production potential of every animal. The dairy herd health research programme includes projects relating to Johne’s disease and transition cow health. A study investigating herd testing methods for Johne’s disease determined that environmental sampling for Johne’s disease using slurry and manure has potential applications in the control of the disease nationally. Also, the transition cow health programme has established the research needs on transition cow health; this is based on national data and will be used to tailor the research outputs and use of resources to Irish dairying needs. An identified research priority in this context is milk fever prevention.
Dairy cow welfare
The dairy cow welfare programme at Teagasc recently undertook a large scale study of farms in the south of Ireland to investigate the welfare status of Irish dairy cows and identify areas for improvement. Lameness was investigated in detail as part of this study; current management practices were examined and the most prevalent lesions and risk factors for lameness were documented in Irish dairy herds. The research has demonstrated that while Irish dairy farms are performing well in some areas of welfare, there is considerable scope for improvement in others. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the management of pain and lameness in dairy cows is one such area; only 8% of Irish dairy farmers use pain relief in the treatment of severely lame dairy cows. A new project will investigate the effects of treating lame dairy cows with NSAIDs on lameness outcomes, and will determine the effects of administration of NSAIDs to dairy cows at the time of calving on their welfare, production and subsequent risk of lameness.
Biosecurity
Recent research has addressed the potential risks of endemic infectious disease transmission from dairy heifer contract-rearing (McCarthy, M.C. PhD, 2022). Follow up work in dairy herds nationally in another PhD (O’Donovan, S.) is currently establishing the biosecurity status of our dairy herds and the potential impacts of intervention on biosecurity status, production and farm economics. This is a longitudinal study over four years.
Outputs
Dairy herd health
- Systematic review of herd-level test methods for Johne’s disease
- Environmental sampling for Johne’s disease using boot swabs
- Farmers’ knowledge of Johne’s disease and opinions of the Irish Johne’s Control Programme: results of an online survey answered mostly by young farmers
- Transition cow management and health in Irish dairy herds: Results from an on-line survey
Dairy cow welfare
- Effects of increased grazing intensity during the early and late grazing periods on the welfare of spring-calving, pasture-based dairy cows.
- Risk factors associated with indicators of dairy cow welfare during the housing period in Irish, spring-calving, hybrid pasture-based systems.
- Hoof lesions in partly housed pasture-based dairy cows.
- Lameness prevalence and management practices on Irish pasture-based dairy farms.
- Use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Attitudes to Pain in Pasture-Based Dairy Cows: A Comparative Study of Farmers and Veterinarians.
- Risk factors associated with the welfare of grazing dairy cows in spring-calving, hybrid pasture-based systems.
More information
Contacts
Ainhoa Valldecabres, DVM, PhD (Ainhoa.Valldecabres@teagasc.ie)
Niamh Field MVB (Niamh.field@teagsac.ie)
Muireann Conneely, DVM, PhD (muireann.conneely@teagasc.ie)
John Mee, DVM, PhD (john.mee@teagasc.ie)