Symposium review: Considerations for the future of dairy cattle housing: An animal welfare perspective

摘要

Many contemporary dairy cattle housing practicesare at odds with societal perceptions of positive animalwelfare. The public (i.e., those external to the dairyindustry) typically emphasizes the importance of naturalnessfor dairy cattle, such as through provision ofpasture, freedom of movement, and the ability to interactsocially with conspecifics. Yet, in the United States,the majority of lactating dairy cattle are reportedlyhoused without any access to pasture, and almost 39%of dairy farms use tiestalls, which restrict movementand social interactions. In addition to being in conflictwith public expectations, a lack of pasture access andrestrictive housing systems are also in conflict with theanimals’ own motivations, which can adversely affecttheir welfare. For example, dairy cattle are highly motivatedto access pasture and show a reduction in oralstereotypies when allowed on pasture after periods oftethering. Calves housed without social contact havecognitive deficits and exhibit increased fear responsesto novelty. We argue that the long-term sustainabilityof the dairy industry will depend on the extent towhich housing systems reflect public concerns and theanimals’ priorities. The adoption of technologies, suchas automated feeders and remote monitoring systems,may represent a means to practically promote theanimals’ natural behavior while simultaneously improvingindividualized care. Although older generations ofthe public may consider technological solutions to bea further deviation from naturalness and a departurefrom dairy farming’s agrarian roots, the definition of“naturalness” for younger generations may well haveexpanded to include technology. As the buying powershifts to these younger generations, the adoption oftechnologies that promote natural cattle behaviorsmay be one means toward reconciling the disconnectbetween public perceptions of animal welfare and contemporarydairy farming practices.