Effects of the availability of an external area on dairy cows welfare during summer period

Abstract

Problems of environmental pollution, as well as the need to ensure the cleanliness of the milking cows, do not suggest the use of external paddock. On the contrary, for the production of organic milk, the access to the paddock or pasture is compulsory, as the presence of the paddock could improve animal welfare, particularly in hot summer conditions. The negative effects of heat stress are not simply restricted to a lower milk yield but also lead to a worsening of milk composition (Bernabucci and Calamari, 1998) and cheesemaking properties (Calamari and Mariani, 1998).....

Keywords

• dairy cows, heat stress, paddock