Cattle welfare Flashcards
What age would cattle wean at in the wild
9 months
- Also gradual in wild
+ contact for years after
Benefit of trainer cows during weaning
Helps guide calves to feed
Decreases stress
What is 2 step weaning
First stop sucking for 4 days while keeping pair together e.g via anti-suckling device
Then do separation
Benefits of two step weaning
Less vocalisation by calves and cows
More time spent eating and less walking
Why is advantageous for farmers that bucket fed calves drink much less milk than sucklers
Pushes them to eat solid food which is cheaper
3 things to consider with welfare assessment
Physical functioning
Mental feelings
Naturalness
What are some needs to calves
To suckle; can redirect this onto penmates
To ingest enough food; veal systems??
Explore, exercise, show escape responses
Interact socially and groom
Up to what age can calves be kept in individual pens?
8 weeks
Up to what age must calves be given bedding
2 weeks
When must calves be given colostrum within
6 hours
Requirements for individual pens
Wider than height of withers of calf
Longer than full length of cowx 1.1
No solid walls so need direct visual and tactile contact with others
How often must calves be fed per day
twice
After what age must calves be given water to drink
2 weeks
How often do you need to inspect calves
Twice per day if indoors
Once if outdoors
Space requirement per calf in group housing
1.5m squared if <150kg
1.7 if <220kg
1.8 if >220kg
