Body condition as an indicator of cow welfare

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to determine the quality level of welfare of milk cows at various stages of lactation (the first 60 days of the lactation period and the dry period) and of different breeds (Holstein-Friesian and Simmental) on farms (A, B, C, D) with different systems of housing (free and tie-stall), based on nutritional status as a direct individual indicator of wellbeing. Results showed that the body condition scores of cows were statistically very highly significantly (p<0.001) influenced by breed, production stage and the breed x production stage interaction; statistically highly significantly (p<0.01) by the breed x housing system interaction, and significantly (p<0.05) by the housing system x production stage interaction.

Keywords

• body condition
• welfare of cows
• simmental breed
• holstein-friesian breed