Abstract
Simple SummaryDairy cows are susceptible to a range of welfare factors, which lead to worsening health problems and shorten their productive life span. The health and welfare status of dairy cows could be improved if unwanted abnormalities and risk factors are detected in a timely manner, i.e., before diseases start to occur. Therefore, in addition to veterinary monitoring, quantitative parameters are necessary to predict the risks of early culling of cows. In the study of the age dynamics of culling rate in dairy cow populations, it was found that the average productive life span can be predicted by registration of the reciprocal relative disposal rate (culling for sum of reasons + death). This indicator represents the viability index, which has a maximal value at the first lactation and decreases in subsequent lactations with an inverse exponential trend. According to available scientific information, the structural prerequisites for this index are laid down during prenatal development and in the early periods of postnatal life; therefore, it is necessary to create a system of continuous monitoring of the physiological status of mothers and young animals.Animal welfare includes health but also concerns the need for natural factors that contribute to the increase in viability. Therefore, quantitative parameters are necessary to predict the risks of early culling of cows. In the study of the age dynamics of the disposal rate (culling for sum of reasons + death) in dairy cow populations, it was found that the average productive life span can be predicted by the value of the reciprocal culling/death rate (reciprocal value of Gompertz function) at the first lactation. This means that this potential of viability is formed during the developmental periods preceding the onset of lactation activity. Therefore, taking into account current data in the field of developmental biology, it can be assumed that the structural prerequisites for viability potential are laid down during prenatal development and in the early periods of postnatal life. To prevent unfavorable deviations in these processes due to negative welfare effects, it is advisable to monitor the physiological status of mothers and young animals using biosensors and Big Data systems.
Highlights
Dairy cows are susceptible to a range of negative welfare factors, such as stall discomfort, metabolic and physical stress, bad pasture condition, age, parity, etc., which in general lead to worsening health problems and shorten their productive life span [1–3]
Based on the analysis of the results obtained using different methodological approaches in Studies I and II, it can be concluded that the observed variations in productive life span (PLS) in the studied dairy cow populations mainly depend on the parameters characterizing the initial level of viability that was formed in the periods preceding the onset of lactation activity (1/(y1) in Study I and D in Study II)
The second component is difficult to assess in a short-term experiment, but, in all likelihood, it determines the long-term effects of animal general background resistance and viability. This is indicated by the relationships between the productive life span and the “initial” level of parameters, which we revealed in the analysis of the age dynamics of 205 d milk yield and disposal rate in dairy cows (Figures 3c and 4b)
Summary
Dairy cows are susceptible to a range of negative welfare factors, such as stall discomfort, metabolic and physical stress, bad pasture condition, age, parity, etc., which in general lead to worsening health problems and shorten their productive life span [1–3]. Animal welfare includes health and concerns the need for natural factors (e.g., access to pasture) that contribute to the increase in viability [4,5]. Risks associated with a higher culling rate include increasing herd size, average milk yield and morbidity, respiratory disease, and total mixed ration feeding [6,7]. An increase in milk production has been associated with risks of altering behavioral, physiological, and immunological conditions [1], leading to greater risks for health disorders, which are the primary reported reasons for culling. The most general quantitative indicator of welfare for dairy cow populations seems to be the length of productive life
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
