The adoption of good practices of handling improves dairy calves welfare: Case study

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the adoption of a set of good practices of handling on dairy calves welfare. Data were retrieved from the records of a commercial farm, considering three periods: Conventional handling (CH, 12 mo.), transitional period (TP, 4 mo.), and good practices handling (GPH, 12 mo.). During CH calves were kept in individual pens, milk-fed in open pails and subjected to abrupt weaning; while during TP and GPH they were kept in groups, milk-fed in nipple-pails, brushed for 5 min. once a day, and subjected to progressive weaning. TP was assumed as a training period necessary for GPH implementation. The percentages of calves treated with antibiotics and numbers of deaths per month were used as indicators of calves welfare. Statistical analysis was performed using a logistic regression model to compare the number of deaths per month between CH and the other periods. Chi-square test was used to compare the percentage of animals treated with antibiotics per month. Results showed that CH had a higher risk of calf's death then TP and GPH, as well as a higher percentage of animals treated with antibiotics. In conclusion, the adoption of good practices of handling improved dairy calves welfare.

摘要。本研究旨在评估采用一系列犊牛优良饲养管理规范对奶犊牛福利的影响。研究数据取自某商业牧场的养殖记录，涵盖三个试验阶段：常规饲养阶段（Conventional handling, CH，12个月）、过渡阶段（Transitional period, TP，4个月）以及优良饲养管理阶段（Good practices handling, GPH，12个月）。常规饲养阶段中，犊牛采用单栏饲养，使用开放式奶桶饲喂牛奶，并实施突然断奶方案；而过渡阶段与优良饲养管理阶段中，犊牛采用群养模式，使用带奶嘴的奶桶饲喂牛奶，每日进行5分钟的刷毛护理，并采用渐进式断奶方案。过渡阶段被视为实施优良饲养管理规范前的必要训练周期。本研究以每月抗生素治疗犊牛占比与月度死亡数作为犊牛福利评价指标。统计分析采用逻辑回归模型对比常规饲养阶段与其余两个阶段的月度死亡数，采用卡方检验对比月度抗生素治疗动物占比。结果显示，常规饲养阶段的犊牛死亡风险显著高于过渡阶段与优良饲养管理阶段，且抗生素治疗犊牛的占比也更高。综上，采用犊牛优良饲养管理规范可有效改善奶犊牛福利水平。