Animal Welfare Review – Dairy Reference Example Observation Calculation

Observation Planning ObservationGroups Observed Docked TailsClose-up, Fresh, High, Late pens Swollen Hocks/KneesClose-up, Fresh, High, Late pens Hygiene Close-up, Fresh, High, Late pens, Pre- weaned & Weaned calves Body Condition Scores Close-up, Fresh, High, Late pens, Pre- weaned & Weaned calves + Hospital (all) Stocking RatesFresh, High, Late, Hospital Footing (slips)(with locomotion scores) Locomotion Scores 2 milking pens (High & Late; ALL) + Calves (post-weaning) Parlor Behavior & Turn Time3 turns (heifers & cows)

Observation Planning GroupObservation* Close-up Dry Cows Tail docking, Hock/Knee Swelling, Hygiene, BCS Fresh Cows Tail docking, Hock/Knee Swelling, Hygiene, BCS Stocking Rate High Producing Cows Tail docking, Hock/Knee Swelling, Hygiene, BCS Stocking Rate Locomotion Scores & Footing Evaluation Mid-Late Lactation Cows Tail docking, Hock/Knee Swelling, Hygiene, BCS Locomotion Scores & Footing Evaluation Stocking Rate Hospital Pen Body Condition Score Stocking Rate Pre-weaned calves Tail docking, BCS, Hygiene, Hock/Knee Swelling, Navels Weaned calves Tail docking, BCS, Hygiene, Locomotion Scores & Footing Evaluation *Don’t forget Parlor Scores + Turn Times on 3 milking pens

Population Estimated Prevalence of Condition 10 %20 %50 % 10, (or every 104 th animal) 5, (or every 53 rd animal) 4, (or every 43 rd animal) 3, (or every 32 nd animal) 2, (or every 27 th animal) 2, (or every 22 th animal) 1, (or every 16 th animal) 1, (or every 11 th animal) (or every 9 th animal) (or every 6 th animal) (or every 4 th animal) (or every 2 th animal) Sample Sizes  Use 50% prevalence as worst case scenario

Number of pens Number of Animals per Pen Random Sampling of Pens  For individual calf hutches, evaluate 30% of hutches.

Determining observation numbers Far-Off Dry = 15% (150 cows)Fresh = 4% (40 cows) Close-up Dry = 5% (50 cows)High = 33% (330 cows) Hospital = 1% (10 cows)Mid & Late = 42 % (420 cows) Example: 1,000 cow dairy estimated herd profile  FODC = 1 pen  CUDC = 2 pens  Hospital = 1 pen  Fresh = 1 pen  High = 3 pens  Late = 5 pens Pen numbers

Example calculations: 1,000 cows CUDC 5 animals from 2 pens (88 *.06) Fresh 4 animals (88 *.05) High 35 animals from 2 pens (88 *.40) Late 44 animals across 3 pens (88 *.50)  Population = 1,000  Prevalence = assume worst case of 50%  Observation number (from table) = 88 animals  Spread 88 observations over groups designated by proportion  Account for numbers in observation groups only (subtract far off dry cows & hospital numbers ~16%) BCS, Hygiene, Tails, Hock/Knee Swelling Locomotion & Footing HighAll of 1 pen LateAll of 1 pen Stocking Rate FreshAll of 1 pen HighAll of 1 pen LateAll of 1 pen HospitalAll of 1 pen