Dairy cattle husbandry

1. NDSU-IACUC
Dairy cattle husbandry training
module
Adapted from “Guide for the care
and use of agricultural animals in
agricultural research and
teaching”; Federation of Animal
Science Societies; 1st revised
edition, January 1999

2. NDSU-IACUC
Facilities and environment
 Dry area for loafing
 Adequate thermal comfort, physical comfort,
disease control, freedom from fear
 Affect of heat and cold stress on lactation
 Calves
– outdoor hutches, bedded pens, elevated stalls
– dry, draft free, clean and dry

3. NDSU-IACUC
Facilities and environment
 Fenced pastures, corrals, exercise yards with
shelters, insulated and ventilated barns
 Outdoor exposure and exercise where
appropriate
 Dry, non-slip substrate (dirt, rough concrete)

4. NDSU-IACUC
Facilities and environment
 Area
– individual stalls (length of the animal), stanchions,
tie stalls, free stalls
 Bedding
– dry
– long or chopped straw, poor quality hay, sand,
sawdust, shavings, rice hulls
– absorbent, free of toxic chemicals

5. NDSU-IACUC
Facilities and environment
 Free stalls
– one stall per lactating cow
– clean, dry bedding
– slope uphill from rear to front
– natural lying and rising behavior
– ease of cleaning

6. NDSU-IACUC
Facilities and environment
 Special needs areas
– Preparturition
 clean, dry environment; ration for entering milking herd;
free-stall housing
– Maternity
 well-ventilated; clean, dry and well-bedded; provisions for
lifting “downer” animal; tractor access; adequate feeding
space; clean, fresh water
 calving pasture; drainage; adequate space and shelter

7. NDSU-IACUC
Facilities and environment
 Special needs areas
– Removing calf
 early removal is recommended
– about 12 hrs
– Postcalving
 area to observe cow for 0-7 days after calving; monitor
feed intake and milk production; free stalls or large, well-
bedded pens

8. NDSU-IACUC
Facilities and environment
 Special needs areas
– Treatment
 artificial insemination
 pregnancy diagnosis
 postpartum examination
 sick cow examination
 surgery
 holding sick or injured animals
– Dry-off
 separation from milking herd for treatments, feeding, observation

9. NDSU-IACUC
Facilities and environment
 Corrals
– scraping and flushing
– minimize moisture and mud
 Pasture
– appropriate stocking rates
– minimize stress of overgrazing
 Lighting

10. NDSU-IACUC
Feed and water
 Formulated diets for maintenance, growth, production,
reproduction
 Avoid contamination and spoilage of feeds
 Adequate space for feed and water
 Calves should consume 2-3 liters of colostrum within 4-
5 hours of birth and another 2-3 liters within 24 hours
of birth
– pooled, high quality colostrum
 Johne’s disease problems – see Johne’s module

11. NDSU-IACUC
Feed and water
 Until calves can consume dry feed, give liquid
food at 10% body weight per day until weaned
 Avoid giving water with milk to allow normal
curd formation
 Dry feed and fiber to develop rumen microflora
 Clean, non-contaminated water available at all
times
 Areas under watering sources should be dry

12. NDSU-IACUC
Social environment
 Herd animals
 Cows handled individually undergo more stress
than handling as a group
 Under duress may bellow, butt or kick
 Crowding can create stress and disease
problems

13. NDSU-IACUC
Husbandry
 Consult veterinarian for vaccination schedules
 Handling with stanchions, head gates, squeeze chutes,
halters, rope, tail hold
 Use nose tongs, hobbles and electric prods sparingly
 May require assistance during dystocia (difficult birth)
 Handling of newborn calves
– dipping navel in 7% iodine
– colostrum

14. NDSU-IACUC
Standard agricultural practices
 Individual identification
 Removal of supernumery teats on heifer calves
 Castration
 Dehorning

15. NDSU-IACUC
Standard agricultural practices
 Foot care
– avoid acidosis (high grain diet) – can lead to
laminitis (lameness)
– foot rot
– hairy heel warts
– footbaths and topical sprays may be appropriate
– avoid predisposing problems
 sharp rock substrates
 muddy ground

16. NDSU-IACUC
Handling and transportation
 Loading and shipping
– knowledge of flight zone
– room for animal to turn
– stair steps and solid sides for loading ramps
– move slowly
– attempt to ship under favorable weather conditions
– calves should be 5 days old before shipment
 dry navel, adequate colostrum, walk easily, dry hair coat,
protection from elements

17. NDSU-IACUC
Special considerations
 Milking machine and udder sanitation
– program for regular milking machine maintenance
– clean floors, good traction, good lighting
– personnel with training to work in a dairy
– written operating procedures
– milk cows with mastitis last in line
– milking machine and udder sanitation
 udder washing, hair removal
 teat sanitation – predips, wiping, post milking
 hand washing of milkers

18. NDSU-IACUC
Special considerations
 Stray voltage
– locate source of electrical current passing through
animals
 poor electrical connections, corrosion of switches, frayed
insulation, faulty equipment, heavily loaded power lines
– evaluate facilities
 voltage reduction, control of voltage leakage, gradient
control, proper grounding, proper installation of equipment

19. NDSU-IACUC
Special considerations
 Bulls
– Aggression makes handling difficult
 Many facilities do not maintain bulls
 If you do work with bulls remember
– aggression increases with age
– remove smaller, subordinate bulls from group
– human safety issues
– electroejaculation performed by experienced personnel

20. NDSU-IACUC
Euthanasia
 Barbiturates
 Captive bolt
 Gunshot