SOME INDICATORS OF COMFORT IN DAIRY COWS – A REVIEW PART 1
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15547/tjs.2025.02.010Keywords:
cow comfort, dairy cattle, cow welfareAbstract
Dairy industry is focused on optimizing production. Humane treatment and cow welfare are key points in achieving this. This review aims to assist farmers and any professional related to dairy industry in evaluating and improving dairy cattle comfort by utilizing some indicators. The literature search done is on studies of conditions of the housing environment and level of feeding affecting welfare. Heat stress due to annual increase of global temperature becomes a constant obstacle for dairy cattle farming and not only. Three cow comfort indices are the most used to assess comfort of cows through quantitative parameters - Cow Comfort Index (CCI), Stall Usage Index (SUI) and Stall Standing Index (SSI). Cows spend more time standing when the stall does not provide the comfort they need. Body Condition Score (BCS) is key for herd management and good health. This assessment should be done at each stage of lactation, so that timely and effective measures could be taken if adjustments in nutrition are necessary.
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