scholarly journals Organic Dairy Cattle: Do European Union Regulations Promote Animal Welfare?

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1786
Author(s):  
Eugénie Duval ◽  
Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk ◽  
Benjamin Lecorps
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Organic Dairy ◽  
High Standards ◽  
Vague Language ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Eu

Animal welfare is an emerging concept in EU law; with the advent of specific regulations intending to protect animals. The approach taken by European lawmakers is to provide “minimum standards” for conventional farming; argued by some as failing to adequately protect animals. In contrast, the EU organic farming regulations aim to “establish a sustainable management system for agriculture” and promote “high animal welfare standards”. The first aim of this review was to identify key areas where there are clear improvements in quality of life for dairy cattle housed under the EU organic regulations when compared to the conventional EU regulations. Using the available scientific evidence, our second aim was to identify areas where the organic regulations fail to provide clear guidance in their pursuit to promote high standards of dairy cattle welfare. The greater emphasis placed on natural living conditions, the ban of some (but unfortunately not all) physical mutilations combined with clearer recommendations regarding housing conditions potentially position the organic dairy industry to achieve high standards of welfare. However, improvements in some sections are needed given that the regulations are often conveyed using vague language, provide exceptions or remain silent on some aspects. This review provides a critical reflection of some of these key areas related to on-farm aspects. To a lesser extent, post farm gate aspects are also discussed

Comparison of International Therapy Guidelines with Regard to the Treatment of Malignant Catatonia

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (01) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Carlos Schönfeldt-Lecuona ◽  
Maximilian Cronemeyer ◽  
Lilli Hiesener ◽  
Bernhard J. Connemann ◽  
Maximilian Gahr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
International Guidelines ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Autonomic Instability ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
High Standards ◽  
Evidence Based Guidelines ◽  
Current Guidelines ◽  
Malignant Catatonia

Abstract Objective Malignant catatonia (MC) is an extremely rare, life-threatening disorder. It is characterized by catatonic symptoms accompanied by autonomic instability, hyperthermia, and changes in laboratory values. In many cases, MC is not recognized as such. Evidence-based guidelines are essential to ensure quality of treatment, but what do current national and international guidelines recommend? Method Online search for international guidelines from English-, French-, Italian-, and German-speaking countries whose medical care meets high standards addressing the treatment of MC. These were analyzed and compared regarding statements on MC, recommendations, and strength of scientific evidence. Results Fifteen of the identified guidelines were included. Only 5 of 15 comment on the treatment of MC. As for other rare diseases, no detailed recommendations are available. Suggested therapies are limited to benzodiazepines and electroconvulsive therapy. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendation are predominantly low. Conclusion Many international guidelines do not mention MC. It is not possible to derive a clear algorithm for the treatment of MC from most current guidelines. A thorough update of most guidelines appears to be necessary. Lack of awareness and knowledge of MC among physicians and medical professionals might lead to inadequate or delayed care, worsened outcome, or death.

scholarly journals Timely Euthanasia in the United States Dairy Industry–Challenges and a Path Forward

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer B. Walker ◽  
I. Noa Roman-Muniz ◽  
Lily N Edwards-Callaway
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Employee Training ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Critical Component ◽  
Treatment Protocols ◽  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
On Farm

Euthanasia is a valuable management tool utilized on dairies to end the suffering of sick or debilitated cows. Euthanasia should be implemented if an animal’s pain cannot be adequately alleviated and if there is a limited chance of recovery. To be humane, euthanasia should be quick, painless, and administered by a trained individual. Despite its importance in ensuring cow well-being, the timeliness with which euthanasia decisions are made for dairy cattle is often overlooked or neglected. The timeliness of euthanasia is as important as the efficient, rapid administration of euthanasia itself. Timely euthanasia is a critical component of many on-farm animal care and verification programs yet opportunities exist within the industry to improve how effectively the industry is executing this critical component of cow management. There are challenges associated with performing euthanasia in a timely manner, such as inconsistencies in treatment protocols, inadequate employee training, difficulties assessing a cow’s quality of life, and impacts of the human–animal bond on decision-making. The objective of this paper is to explain the importance of timely euthanasia to dairy cattle welfare, identify the challenges that can prevent the timeliness of euthanasia, and provide solutions and practical suggestions for improving the management of timely euthanasia on dairies.

283 Timely Euthanasia on Farm; Dairy Cattle and Swine

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 10-10
Author(s):  
Monique Pairis-Garcia ◽  
Ivelisse Robles
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
The United States ◽  
Animal Suffering ◽  
Alternative Placement ◽  
Temporal Placement ◽  
Captive Bolt Gun ◽  
Cattle Systems ◽  
On Farm

Abstract Euthanasia of mature swine and cattle can be challenging. On-farm euthanasia should be used as a tool to eliminate pain and suffering. However, clear guidelines regarding making euthanasia decisions and alternative euthanasia techniques available for use is limited in the United States (US). In order to prevent prolonged suffering and pain in compromised animals, science-based recommendations are needed to ensure timely and humane euthanasia can be performed when needed on-farm. This presentation will focus on two euthanasia challenges currently faced in swine and dairy cattle systems in the US today: 1) Swine: Validating alternative euthanasia techniques for use in mature breeding stock and 2) Dairy Cattle: Identifying producer barriers preventing timely euthanasia decision-making using surveys and focus groups. The swine study evaluated the effectiveness of two penetrating captive bolt gun styles (cylinder or pistol) using a frontal, temporal and behind-the-ear placement. Four treatments were 100% effective in achieving cardiac arrest and death. The cylinder style captive bolt gun resulted in greater brain trauma and death compared to a pistol style gun and behind-the-ear and temporal placement showed promise as an alternative placement site for euthanizing mature pigs. In the dairy cattle study, dairy producers were recruited to participate in a survey and focus group. Survey results indicated that farm owners were most commonly responsible for on-farm euthanasia and most respondents would treat and monitor compromised cattle for a majority of health conditions, regardless of condition severity. Participants in focus groups focused primarily on animal welfare as the most important factor influencing the decision to euthanize and the desire to eliminate animal suffering by using euthanasia as a tool. This work highlights the complicated challenges that arise when euthanizing livestock and the importance of not only identifying appropriate techniques to humanely euthanize livestock but address the emotional and animal welfare factors that influence these decisions.

scholarly journals Milk Quality from Organic Farm

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
Veronica Wanniatie
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Organic Milk ◽  
Organic Farm ◽  
Sustainable Environment ◽  
Organic Dairy ◽  
The Difference

<p>Nowdays, people prefer to consume safe and healthy food such as organic food and milk. Organic milk comes from organic farms applying sustainable environment and animal welfare. Consumers choose organic milk because it provides health benefits and comes from farm that applying animal welfare and green environment. Organic milk contains no pesticide residues, antibiotics and other contaminants. This paper describes the comparison of conventional and organic dairy farm and the quality of organic milk in terms of nutrition and contaminant. Organic farming that implements a production system for premium market with special requirements of production process and product quality, demands high management qualification. The difference between organic and conventional milk is the higher level of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) because of rich forage feed in an organic livestock raising system.</p>

scholarly journals Addressing Lameness in Farmed Animals: An Urgent Need to Achieve Compliance with EU Animal Welfare Law

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Nalon ◽  
Peter Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Clinical Manifestation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Legislative Framework ◽  
On Farm ◽  
To Receive ◽  
The Eu

Lameness is the clinical manifestation of a range of painful locomotory conditions affecting many species of farmed animals. Although these conditions have serious consequences for animal welfare, productivity, and longevity, the prevention and treatment of lameness continue to receive insufficient attention in most farming sectors across the European Union (EU). In this paper, we outline the legislative framework that regulates the handling of lameness and other painful conditions in farmed animals in the EU. We briefly outline the current situation in different livestock farming sectors. Finally, we make the case for the introduction of regular on-farm monitoring of lameness and for the setting of alarm thresholds that should trigger corrective actions.

Developing effective training and certification schemes for improving on-farm dairy cattle welfare

2021 ◽  
pp. 123-140
Author(s):  
Antoni Dalmau ◽  
◽  
Antonio Velarde ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Quality Principles ◽  
Effective Training ◽  
Welfare Quality ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Selection Of

This chapter discusses developing effective training and certification schemes for improving on-farm dairy cattle welfare. It begins by reviewing the selection of measures that can be used for assessing animal welfare, focusing firstly on animal-based measures, then moves on to review resource and management based measures. The chapter also discusses the four welfare quality principles – feeding, housing, health and behaviour – and how dairy cattle welfare can be affected by the quality these four principles. Training of assessors is also discussed, before a summary of why using a combination of resource-based, management-based and animal-based measures is the best way to ensure good welfare in animals such as dairy cattle.

Identification of potential on-farm sources ofListeria monocytogenesin herds of dairy cattle

2009 ◽  
Vol 234 (5) ◽  
pp. 673-673
Author(s):  
Hussni O. Mohammed ◽  
Korana Stipetic ◽  
Patrick L. McDonough ◽  
Ruben N. Gonzalez ◽  
Daryl V. Nydam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
On Farm
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