Animal category: Cattle

Symposium review: scientific assessment of affective states in dairy cattle

Thomas Ede, Benjamin Lecorps, Marina A.G.von Keyserlingk, Daniel M.Weary

Published in 2019

Preview:  “Drawing upon a body of theoretical and applied work, we critically review the scientific literature on the assessment of affective states in animals, drawing examples where possible from research on dairy cattle, and highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of scientific methods used to assess affective states in animals.”

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Welfare indicators

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Vocal individuality of Holstein-Friesian cattle is maintained across putatively positive and negative farming contexts.

Alexandra Green, Cameron Clark, Livio Favaro, Sabrina Lomax, Davi Reby

Published in 2019

This study of contact calls between calves and their mothers shows that they have an individual distinctive character that can attract the social support of fellow calves. Knowledge of these indices of individuality could help farmers to better distinguish between animals for welfare or production purposes.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Maternity, Vocalisation

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Bien être animal dans les systèmes de production de bovins laitiers

OIE

Published in 2021

OIE standards are internationally recognised as the only science-based standards on the subject to have been adopted by the World Assembly of Delegates. They are regularly updated in line with the evolution of scientific knowledge and are gradually being fleshed out to cover different aspects of welfare. Consultation with Member States as well as with experts and relevant international governmental and non-governmental organisations is guaranteed throughout the drafting process to ensure their relevance in light of the latest scientific knowledge. Each year, the OIE World Assembly of Delegates adopts new or revised draft standards. Standards dealing with animal welfare are not recognised in the WTO SPS Agreement, unlike those dealing with animal health and veterinary public health. This standard addresses the welfare of dairy cattle in commercial production systems.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Livestock farming system

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Animal Transport Guide Project Consortium (2017-rev1 May 2018). "Guide to Good Practice for the Transport of Cattle"

European Commission

Published in 2018

This Guide to Good Practice is intended to improve animal welfare during transport by providing practical tools to meet the requirements of the Regulations and to propose improvements in practice that go beyond the legislation.
The practices in this guide are based on scientific knowledge and publications and on experience and information gathered from stakeholders. No distinction is made between different types of knowledge producer unless this is considered necessary for a better understanding or verification of the source. Its contents may be used to develop company-specific guidelines or Standard Operating Procedures for transporters or other stakeholders, or as a reference source for practical transport management that respects animal welfare.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Transport

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Guide to Good Practice - Controlling the welfare of cattle at slaughter

INTERBEV

Published in 2014

This guide has three main objectives:
- To provide, whatever the size of the establishment, a reference tool for professionals intended to guarantee that the regulations currently in force for animal welfare from the time of unloading until they cease to bleed are followed.
- To put forward interpretations of the requirements that are implicit in the Regulations and to translate new scientific knowledge into good practice.
- To provide a methodological tool for animal welfare management by, on the one hand, making recommendations for management and design and, on the other hand, monitoring methods that can be carried out by operators and that allow each production unit to assess the effectiveness of the measures put in place to maximise animal welfare from the moment they are delivered to the moment they are killed.
An opinion published in the Journal officiel de la République Française on 3 April 2014 validated this guide to good practice for the welfare of cattle at the abattoir in its November 2013 version.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Risk management

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Scientific Opinion on the assessment of dairy cow welfare in small-scale farming systems

EFSA

Published in 2015

This Opinion examines the available information on risks to the welfare of dairy cows in small-scale farming systems in Europe, including the impacts of production diseases. A methodology for assessing welfare in these systems is proposed.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements

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International recommendations for the housing of dairy cows and replacement heifers

CIGR International Commission of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering, Structures and Environment Section, Working Group N° 14

Published in 2014

This collection of recommendations on cattle housing pulls together a wide range of scientific data and is based on expert knowledge in a number of disciplines (ethology, climatisation, ergonomics, construction, etc.). It is intended for designers, breeders, builders, etc. of livestock buildings and contains numerous references with calculations relating to the various living areas and equipment.

Document Types: Technical work

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Housing

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Evaluation du guide de bonnes pratiques d’abattage des bovins en matière de protection animale

ANSES

Published in 2013

The Opinion assesses a draft guide and takes into account the available scientific data and practices in other European countries. It identifies scientific and/or regulatory issues and puts forward recommendations supported by scientific evidencefor possible improvements and enhancements to the guide . It also provides answers to a list of detailed questions from the DGAl on particular issues identified by the latter.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Consciousness, Pain, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Fear, Stress

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Ecorner les jeunes bovins efficacement, facilement et sans douleur

Anne Aupiais and Béatrice Mounaix (idele), Marylise Le Guenic and Guylaine Trou (CRAB), Alice deBoyer des Roches (VetAgroSup)

Published in 2016

The dehorning of calves is a practice that can be difficult for farmers. Managing the pain and inflammation caused by this procedure can make it less stressful, not only for the farmer but also for the animals. This booklet provides up-to-date information on good dehorning practices.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Pain, Mutilation

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