Welfare parameters in dairy cows reared in tie-stall and open-stall farming systems: pilot study

Benvenuti, Maria Novella; Giuliotti, Lorella; Lotti, Claudia; Accorsi, Pier Attilio; Petrulli, Carmen Adele; Martini, Andrea

doi:10.12681/jhvms.16430

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…High plasma NEFA levels with other parameters such as BHBA and OFR (Herdt, 2000) could be indices of inflammation. In our study, no critical situation regarding these parameters was shown (Table 3) (Giuliotti et al, 2017;Benvenuti et al, 2018). In fact, although NEFA was far below the normal threshold, Cozzi et al (2011) reported that in mid-lactation NEFA concentration decreases when the energy balance turns positive; in any case, Oetzel (2004) reported that low NEFA concentrations are not biologically important.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 47%

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Assessment of blood and productive parameters in mid-lactation dairy cows fed different diets: replacement of corn silage with triticale silage

et al. 2022

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Abstract. Corn crops require large amounts of resources that affect the environmental sustainability of dairy cow farming systems. The aim of the study was thus to investigate the effects of the replacement of corn silage (CS) with triticale silage (TS) by evaluating blood and productive parameters. The study lasted 7 weeks and involved two groups of 20 Italian Holstein Friesian dairy cows that were homogeneous in terms of parity (3±1.5), days in milk (DIM) (150±85.0), and daily milk production (26±4.6 kg). Chemical analysis of feeds was carried out weekly. Dry-matter intake was estimated daily. At the beginning and end of the trial, haematological, metabolic, and immunological parameters were analysed. At the same, time body weight and body condition score were measured. Milk characteristics were also analysed weekly. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA on data of the second sampling, and a non-parametric test was performed to analyse BCS. Regarding the haematological parameters in the two groups, only lymphocyte values were not in the normal range (2.86 and 2.50×109 L for CS and TS, respectively). Metabolic parameters were in the normal range except for blood ureic nitrogen (BUN; 13.65 and 14.04 mg dL−1), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs; 21.40 and 31.93 µmol L−1), and Cl (91.99 and 93.50 mmol L−1). Hair cortisol was low (0.94 and 0.91 pg mg−1), indicating the absence of stress signs, as confirmed by the results of other immunological parameters (serum lysozyme (SL), bactericidal activity (SBA), haptoglobin (HP), and oxygen free radicals (OFRs)). Statistical differences were not found either for haematological or biochemical parameters. The total replacement of CS with TS did not affect milk yield and composition. In conclusion, the replacement of CS by TS did not give rise to significant modifications in the parameters investigated and did not alter the health status of the animals, thus suggesting the feasibility of its introduction into the diet of mid-lactation dairy cows.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 47%

“…Del Rosario et al ( 2011) reported hair cortisol concentrations equal to 12.15 ± 1.85 pg mg −1 in 2-year-old cows, and Burnett et al (2014) found a cortisol level equal to 11.0 ± 1.2 pg mg −1 in lactating dairy cows. Benvenuti et al (2018) observed higher values in dairy cows reared in an open-stall system.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 75%

Assessment of blood and productive parameters in mid-lactation dairy cows fed different diets: replacement of corn silage with triticale silage

et al. 2022

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“…No official national statistics or reports could be accessed on dairy cow husbandry in Italy. However, scientific literature illustrates that farm structure, housing systems, and the extent of access to pasture for dairy cows differ considerably between regions in Italy (Benvenuti et al., 2018 ; Lora et al., 2020 ; Peli et al., 2016 ; Pugliese et al., 2021 ; Tarantola et al., 2016 ).…”

Section: Appendix C – Dairy Husbandry Systems: Distribution In the Ma...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the Alpine region, including e.g. Mugello (Benvenuti et al., 2018 ) or Piedmont region (Tarantola et al., 2016 ), with a high percentage of small‐scale farms, structural and economic constraints, tie‐stalls are the most prevalent housing system. In 2005, tie‐stall systems still represented more than 98% of the total barns in the Alpine region (ISTAT in: Corazzin et al., 2010 ).…”

Section: Appendix C – Dairy Husbandry Systems: Distribution In the Ma...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare of dairy cows

Nielsen¹,

Álvarez²,

Bicout³

et al. 2023

EFS2

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This Scientific Opinion addresses a European Commission's mandate on the welfare of dairy cows as part of the Farm to Fork strategy. It includes three assessments carried out based on literature reviews and complemented by expert opinion. Assessment 1 describes the most prevalent housing systems for dairy cows in Europe: tie-stalls, cubicle housing, open-bedded systems and systems with access to an outdoor area. Per each system, the scientific opinion describes the distribution in the EU and assesses the main strengths, weaknesses and hazards potentially reducing the welfare of dairy cows. Assessment 2 addresses five welfare consequences as requested in the mandate: locomotory disorders (including lameness), mastitis, restriction of movement and resting problems, inability to perform comfort behaviour and metabolic disorders. Per each welfare consequence, a set of animal-based measures is suggested, a detailed analysis of the prevalence in different housing systems is provided, and subsequently, a comparison of the housing systems is given. Common and specific system-related hazards as well as management-related hazards and respective preventive measures are investigated. Assessment 3 includes an analysis of farm characteristics (e.g. milk yield, herd size) that could be used to classify the level of on-farm welfare. From the available scientific literature, it was not possible to derive relevant associations between available farm data and cow welfare. Therefore, an approach based on expert knowledge elicitation (EKE) was developed. The EKE resulted in the identification of five farm characteristics (more than one cow per cubicle at maximum stocking density, limited space for cows, inappropriate cubicle size, high on-farm mortality and farms with less than 2 months access to pasture). If one or more of these farm characteristics are present, it is recommended to conduct an assessment of cow welfare on the farm in question using animal-based measures for specified welfare consequences.

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“…An increase in the number of farm animals is associated with the complexities of management and veterinary care, and the deterioration of their health (Barkema et al 2015;Murray et al 2015;Wolf et al 2016;Song et al 2018). Obviously for this reason, as well as due to over-intensive exploitation, their morbidity and decrease in the productive longevity of dairy cows is occur (Curone et al 2018;Benvenuti et al 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Milk Yield of Ukrainian Holstein Is Related to the Immunobiological Parameters of Blood of Calves

Milostiviy¹,

Antonenko²,

Kostyuk³

et al. 2018

Folia Pomer. Univ. Technol. Stetin., Agric., Aliment., Pisc., Z

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Decrease in productive longevity of dairy cows in conditions of industrial dairy complexes causes another problem, which is connected with the timely replenishment of the herd with calves for replacement. Therefore, the cultivation of heifers has very great impact. Much attention is focused on early prediction of the future calves productivity for obtaining highly productive cows. At the same time, the growth rates and development in ontogenesis are studied very often, but blood values are rarely evaluated. In the literature available to us, there is little information about the relationship between calves' humoral and cellular immunity values with the future productivity of the cow. These indicators are traditionally used to characterize the immunobiological reactivity of an organism and the calves' health, and there is practically no information on their relationship to the productive longevity of a dairy cow. This is partly due to the difficulties associated with the duration of the research, since the cow must complete its productive life. A positive and reliable relationship is established between the immunobiological characteristics of calves' blood and their lifelong milk yield when they become a cow. The greatest correlation was noted between the milk productivity's indicators and bactericidal activity of blood serum (r = 0.63-0.69, P < 0.05). The relationship between cellular factors of body defense (phagocytic activity of neutrophils) and the immunoglobulins content of classes G and M with signs of milk productivity was less dense. It was, respectively, r = 0.31-0.41 and r = 0.58-0.63 (P < 0.05). This makes it possible to conclude that the studies conducted in this direction are promising, and assessing calves' immune status for predicting the yield of cow milk. The results obtained by us require further confirmation in a more significant number of animals.

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Welfare parameters in dairy cows reared in tie-stall and open-stall farming systems: pilot study

Cited by 4 publications

References 24 publications

Assessment of blood and productive parameters in mid-lactation dairy cows fed different diets: replacement of corn silage with triticale silage

Assessment of blood and productive parameters in mid-lactation dairy cows fed different diets: replacement of corn silage with triticale silage

Welfare of dairy cows

The Milk Yield of Ukrainian Holstein Is Related to the Immunobiological Parameters of Blood of Calves

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