By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Management practices and housing systems that meet the needs of dairy cows can also be profitable, an Iowa State University professor and Extension veterinarian said at last week’s Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference.

Lameness costs producers more than any other disease, Jan Shearer said. Cows that spend a lot of time standing on hard floor surfaces are not only uncomfortable, but can develop claw horn overgrowth, he said.

“We have to understand the costs of lameness,” he explained. “Cows being comfortable during the transition period is absolutely crucial.”

While the industry does a good job of noting if an animal is functioning well, it could do a better job of considering other animal welfare concerns, he added.

“Is the animal feeling well? Is the animal able to live a reasonably normal life? We don’t do these things as well.”

The size of a cow’s stall is also important, he said. Cows should be able to lay comfortably on their sides and have enough room to get up in a stall, Shearer said.

Studies have shown a stall roughly 10 feet by 4 feet, with no brisket board, provides the most comfort, he added.

Concern over the quality of life of farm animals, including dairy cows, is becoming more of an issue for consumers, said Candace Croney, associate professor of animal behavior/bioethics for Ohio State University’s college of veterinary medicine.

“The average person assumes we provide the minimum husbandry standards,” she said. “But what frustrates scientists and producers are some of the other questions, such as what is a good quality of life and how is an animal coping. They want to know about their biological function and their mental function.

“They want to know that producers care about that quality of life and quality of death they’re experiencing.”

Trends and studies have shown a high level of public support in the United States for greater protection of livestock and poultry, she added.

The industry needs to be proactive in addressing questions and concerns from animal welfare groups and the public, she said. In the last eight years, several states have enacted legislation regulating various aspects of agriculture.

“We need to address animal welfare issues before someone else does, as that will help the industry keep its autonomy. Also, practices need to be critically analyzed from a scientific and ethical perspective. Does science support our practices and are the practices ethically justified and socially acceptable?”

So far, compared to other agriculture industries, dairy animal welfare appears less problematic, she explained.

“There’s a positive imagery associated with dairy cows. There’s relatively little negativity in the public perception. But the industry still should be concerned because it could easily become a focal point if attention is drawn to it.”

The Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference was April 20-21. Next year will be the 20th annual conference, which is organized by Purdue University, Ohio State and Michigan State University.