32. Dairy farming conjures an image of animals at pasture, chewing the cud with few, if any, adverse effects on their welfare. It is regarded as a traditional way of life and the production of milk is viewed by the public as a process which is relatively friendly to the environment.
33. With the constraint on milk output imposed by quotas, the incomes of dairy farmers are determined by their ability to produce milk at the lowest cost per litre. This is often achieved by seeking a high average yield per cow, which in turn may result in a greater risk of welfare problems. Whilst all cows must have a high standard of management, this is especially important for cows of high yielding potential. Farmers, enforcement authorities, and veterinary surgeons, must pay particular attention to the welfare of these animals because of the increased potential for metabolic stress which results in poor welfare. Agricultural support systems can themselves encourage, or even force, farmers to modify management in such a way that poorer welfare results. Welfare should always be considered when any changes are made.
34. For many years, the principal objective of those breeding dairy cattle has been to increase milk production per cow and to increase feed conversion efficiency. Concomitant with this, the feeding and management of cows have been steadily modified so as to increase productivity. As a consequence, cows are utilising more feed and metabolising feeds at greater rates.
35. High metabolic turnover in cows can be associated with a greater risk of mastitis, lameness, infertility and other production diseases so the animals require better care to maintain a satisfactory standard of welfare. However, work currently in progress in Scotland 1 suggests that, while intensive management through feeding manipulation may be a risk factor for foot health, the evidence for this is not strong. Nonetheless, initial findings support the contention that management for high rates of milk production can be associated with fertility problems and lead to a higher risk of disease.
1. Farmers Weekly, 12 September 1997. Dairy Event Supplement S28 & S29.
36. There has been work on very high yielding cows in Canada, Denmark, Germany and the USA which suggests that production may have already passed the point where good cow welfare can be maintained. Breeding companies should therefore devote their efforts primarily to selection against lameness, mastitis and infertility. It is clear that welfare is better in the best managed dairy units irrespective of yield level but animals bred for high yield may be kept on any farm. Specialist breeding for high productivity should take into account the average managed farm and not just the best managed.
37. Most modern dairy cows have a life span of less than four lactations. Whether or not the deliberate shortening of a cow's life is in itself a welfare issue (a point on which we take no position), it will certainly be if, for example, culling results from inadequate management and care. Forcing a cow to produce excessively high quantities of milk and thereby causing metabolic stress which leads to early culling is also an important welfare issue. A significant number of dairy cows are culled in early life for various reasons, including chronic lameness with its associated suffering.
38. It is essential that any planned expansion of a dairy herd takes full account of animal welfare and that stockmanship and facilities are appropriate for the total number in the herd and their planned performance.
39. When agricultural support systems for livestock farming are under consideration, consequences for animal welfare should always be considered and changes should encourage improvements in the animals' welfare.
40. Achievement of good welfare should be of paramount importance in breeding programmes. Breeding companies should devote their efforts primarily to selection for health traits so as to reduce current levels of lameness, mastitis and infertility; selection for higher milk yield should follow only once these health issues have been addressed.
41. Breeding programmes world-wide should have as a major objective the need for good welfare. The criteria used should not lead to the production of animals that require above average levels of management to prevent welfare problems.