Rural delivery: Caring for cows more than just kindness

By ANDREW FISHER and LINDSAY MATTHEWS*

The dairy industry may seldom feature in campaigns by animal welfare groups but care is needed to ensure an acceptably high standard of animal welfare.

Bad publicity about animal welfare in dairying could damage not just the public perception of the industry at home, but sales of New Zealand dairy products in valuable overseas markets.

The Animal Welfare Act, passed in 1999, shifted the emphasis on animal welfare from just cruelty prevention to a requirement for an appropriate level of care for animals.

Farmers and other animal owners are legally required to ensure that the health, behavioural and physical needs of their animals are met. There is also an obligation to alleviate the pain and distress of any ill or injured animals.

There is also increasing scrutiny of farming practices that are designed to improve efficiency and profit, but which may harm animal welfare.

Welfare issues include induction of late-calving cows, tail-docking, the humane treatment of bobby calves, cow nutrition and comfort, lameness and transport.

Calving induction and tail-docking are declining in significance, with less than 7 per cent of cows induced to give birth - a 30 per cent reduction on four years ago.

Although cows are selected more carefully for induction these days, the status of any premature calves that result is still contentious.

Ironically, while tail-docking of cows is declining in New Zealand, dairy producers in some other countries are increasingly adopting the practice.

Bobby calves, because of their age and vulnerability, are deserving of special care and attention. However, because the value of each bobby calf is highly variable from season to season, its humane care depends on individual ethical obligations and a strict welfare code, rather than just its economic value. Bobby calves must be at least four days old before they leave the farm. There are also limits on duration of transport and feeding intervals, aimed at preventing exhaustion.

New Zealand has traditionally operated a low-cost dairy system, feeding cows almost exclusively on grass at pasture. But, as farming efficiency increases, often with lower feed reserves, adverse climate spells and feed shortages leave little margin for error.

In addition to animal welfare requirements, the profitability of farming the modern, high-genetic-merit dairy cow is dependent on maintaining adequate feeding levels and good body condition.

Dairying has always been one of NZ's most progressive primary industries, including its approach to understanding and addressing animal welfare issues.

The industry finances welfare research conducted by AgResearch, Dexcel, Massey University and others. The research is aimed at measuring animal stress and behavioural responses to different management conditions, and identifying solutions to any problems.

For example, research has identified the most comfortable resting surfaces for cows when they are removed from paddocks during brief spells of very wet weather.

This knowledge can be used to prevent environmental damage to pastures, optimise cow comfort and rest, and minimise the risks of lameness for the animals.

Compared with other countries, New Zealand dairying has an enviable reputation for ethical animal management. As the industry continues to grow, it is important that animal welfare issues continue to be addressed, so that reputation is maintained and enhanced.

* Dr Lindsay Matthews is director of the AgResearch Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Centre and Dr Andrew Fisher is a centre research scientist.