Instant Insights: Improving the health and welfare of heifers and calves

Contributions by: Norman B. Williamson, Massey University, New Zealand; Emily Miller-Cushon, University of Florida, USA; and Jennifer Van Os, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA; John F. Mee, Teagasc, Ireland

Description

This collection features three peer-reviewed reviews on improving the welfare of heifers and calves.

The first chapter considers optimising reproductive management as a means of maximising dairy herd health and production. The chapter outlines the steps required to identify reproductive problems and limitations, as well as the emergence of monitoring technologies to detect changes to animal behaviour and patterns which can indicate the presence of disease.

The second chapter summarises recent research addressing behavioural needs of pre-weaned calves and post-weaned heifers, encompassing aspects of social interactions and feeding, rest and comfort, as well as opportunities for other behavioural expression. The chapter also discusses the consequences of restricting these behaviours, such as the development of abnormal oral behaviours.

The final chapter highlights the crucial role youngstock/calf management can play in optimising dairy herd health and welfare in the short-term and long-term. The chapter considers the impacts of calfhood nutritional management and calfhood diseases on subsequent dairy herd health, as well as the role of veterinarians in communicating best practice in youngstock management.

Key Features

• Provides a comprehensive review of the behavioural needs of pre-weaned calves and post-weaned heifers
• Considers the importance of youngstock management in optimising dairy herd health and welfare
• Examines the use of monitoring technologies to identify abnormal behaviours, including changes to sleeping, eating and drinking patterns, which may indicate disease, such as lameness