Lame cows improve when given access to pasture
UBC Research Report, December 2008
Lameness is a common and costly disorder affecting dairy cattle. Freestall housing systems are designed for ease of management but are also associated with a greater risk of hoof injury and disease leading to lameness. For example, the use of concrete floors, zero-grazing and uncomfortable stalls are all well known risk factors.
Pasture rearing can improve hoof health, perhaps due to the change in the physical environment or to associated factors such as change in diet. Fewer cows become lame during the grazing season and cows kept outdoors are less prone to claw disorders than those that are housed indoors. Despite these advantages in hoof health, switching from indoor housing to pasture is not a practical option for many producers. Providing a rest period on pasture for lame cowsmay be a more practical option.
Effects of Bedding Quality on Lying Behavior of Dairy Cows
UBC Research Report, March 2008
A growing body of research now demonstrates that the surface provided for cows is one of the most important factors in designing a suitable lying area. Cows clearly prefer lying surfaces with more bedding and spend more time lying down in well-bedded stalls than those with little or no bedding. Good cow comfort reduces the risk of disease. For example, cows housed in comfortable deep-bedded sand stalls have a lower risk of lameness than cows housed on mattresses with little or no bedding.
Comparison of Two Estrus Synchronization Protocols for Fixed-Time Breeding to Increase Pregnancy in Lactating Dairy Cows
UBC Research Report, May 2008
The ability to synchronize the onset of estrus, and hence the time of breeding and calving offers economic and management benefits to dairy producers. It has been reported that almost half of the estrus period in normal cycling dairy cows may not be detected. Several researchers have linked poor estrus detection to the lower pregnancy rate obtained after breeding lactating cows. This inefficiency results in longer than optimal calving intervals, loss of milk yield, and can limit reproductive efficiency dairy herds.
