BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Identification of potential impacts of New Zealand dairy housing systems on dairy cow welfare


N.A. ARNOLD, G.A. VERKERK, R. GREGORY, L.R. MATTHEWS

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 69: 54-56

Although housing of dairy cows is not acommon management practice in New Zealand, it is becoming increasingly used for a variety of reasons. Potential benefits from dairy housing have been identified as pasture protection, effluent management, cow health and welfare, supplementary feed management and increased production (Dexcel, 2005). Laven and Holmes (2008) further explored potential health and welfare issues associated with increased use of housing for dairy cows in New Zealand. However, there is to date very little empirical research... Continued

Keywords: NZSAPAB; dairy housing; dairy cows; animal welfare; survey.


Last Updated 14/07/2009