Cow Signals Initiative Shows Health
UK - It sounds almost too simple to be true, by watching cow behaviour dairy farmers can make small management changes that may boost production by up to 1000 litres a year.
23 February 2009
2 minute read
This is what a group of vets in the Netherlands have discovered - and they are now training vets and farmers in the CowSignals initiative worldwide, writes Olivia Cooper for Farmers Weekly Interactive.
Joep Driessen, a member of the Vetvice group, says the principle of CowSignals is simple - watch your cows' behaviour closely, and take the necessary action to make their lives as happy and stress-free as possible.
Cows have six basic needs called the six freedoms of the pasture, Mr Driessen told Farmers Weekly Interactive. "Cows need a high amount of feed, water, light, air, space and rest. If you give it to them, they have no reason to become ill any more."
In their natural environment cows have all of these needs fulfilled, so farmers should compare their behaviour indoors with that exhibited in the pasture, and note the differences. "Bring these freedoms into the barn and you get a very disease resistant management."
One of the key acts farmers should watch for are cows that are waiting - happy cows are always eating, drinking, resting, walking or socialising. A cow waiting indicates a problem. If it is waiting in its cubicle it is likely the cubicle is too short, the cow is lame, or there is not enough lunge space - something is preventing it from lying down. Waiting in the corridor indicates the cow is afraid of slipping or of being bullied by another cow - space is the issue.
TheCattleSite News Desk
