Page 304 - The Welfare of Cattle

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health, Disease, and animal Welfare
Perspectives for Dairy Cattle

Jerry D. Olson
Colorado State University

CONteNtS

Animal Husbandry/Stockmanship ................................................................................................. 281
Three Perspectives on Health and Welfare of Dairy Cattle ............................................................282
Societal Expectations ................................................................................................................282
Producer’s Contract and Obligations to Society and Animals .......................................................282
Diseases of Dairy Cattle .................................................................................................................284
Diseases Affected by Confinement Compared to Access to Pasture .............................................285
Lameness ...................................................................................................................................285
Mastitis ......................................................................................................................................285
Reproductive Disease ................................................................................................................285
Mortality ....................................................................................................................................286
Summary of the Meta-analysis Studies on Comparison of Pasture to Confinement ................286
Freedom from Fear and Distress: By Ensuring Conditions and Treatment That Avoid
Mental Suffering ............................................................................................................................287
The Role of the Veterinarian ..........................................................................................................287
References ......................................................................................................................................288

aNIMaL hUSBaNDrY/StOCKMaNShIP

“Stockmanship has been defined as the knowledgeable and skillful handling of livestock in a
safe, efficient, effective, and low-stress manner and denotes a low-stress, integrated, comprehensive,
holistic approach to livestock handling (Stockmanship Journal).” However, stockmanship is more
than just handling. It is concerned with the whole life of the animal in our care. In the past, we have
called Stockmanship animal husbandry or stewardship.
There are three essential elements of good stockmanship: an environment that provides protec-
tion and comfort appropriate for the species; adequate, well-designed facilities that enables low-
stress handling; and a comprehensive, herd health management program. We as veterinarians are
often exposed to some very insightful and effective observations on animal handling by some pro-
ducers. A friend relayed how an animal trainer had trained beef bulls to hop on trailers out in the
pasture. If the bulls moved away from the trailer, the bulls were chased and harassed by a rider on
horse-back. If the bulls moved toward the trailer, they were left alone. They quickly learned the

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