1. Improving animal welfare at the Dairy Research and Technology Centre Melanie Baldwin, Nicole Briggs, Jennifer Nichiporik, Eunha Song ANSC 479/499: Integrative Problem Solving in Animal Science Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta

2. Lameness o Is a condition of diminished function that results in abnormal stance or gait o It can be caused by injury or disease o Lameness results in (Garbarino et al., 2004): decreased milk yield lower reproductive efficiency involuntary cull rates added labor costs

3. proAction Initiative o ProAction : Dairy Farmers of Canada Areas of milk quality, food safety, traceability, biosecurity, environment and animal care Self & External assessments o Assure consumers about farm practices o Support the branding & marketing of Canadian Milk o Assessment focusing on Animal Care

4. Key Objectives: o Improve Welfare at the DRTC focusing on prevention of lameness o Promote the use of proAction to Alberta dairy producers Increase producers’ awareness of lameness Increase consumer confidence with improved animal welfare

5. o “Barn blindness” is common in the dairy industry, with producers not being able to accurately estimate or know the extent of lameness in their barns o Gap between research and producers for causes of lameness o Identification and implementation of methods of prevention Knowledge Gap

6. DRTC Report

7. DRTC Report: Materials and Methods o 38/146 lactating cows assessed o proAction guidelines used o Compiled lameness and treatment records o Provided recommendations

8. National proAction Animal Care Reference Manual o Scoring based on the Animal Based Measures for lameness and body condition o 38 lactating cows at the DRTC assessed in: Body Condition Score (BCS) Hock Injury Knee Injury Locomotion o Acceptable or Unacceptable score assigned DRTC Report: proAction Assessment Acceptable Unacceptable

9. DRTC Report: Assessment Results Score Comparison Body Condition Score Acceptable HocksAcceptable KneesAcceptable Locomotion Alberta proAction Pilot ProjectSame84%96%81% The DRTCSameBelow

10. DRTC Report: Research Nutrition o Body Condition o Abnormal mineral metabolism Stall Design o Effect of stall dimensions on the hoof and hock Flooring and bedding o Hard vs. Soft flooring o Bedding materials Hoof Health o Digital dermatitis o Infectious Pododermatitis Lameness and its causes:

11. DRTC Report: Overview Flooring and Bedding o A new type of soft flooring has been replaced only in section A o Shavings are used as bedding which is cleaned three times a day Hoof Health o The DRTC uses a footbath containing thymox o The footbath is cleaned and replaced every 3 days o A hoof trimmer is brought every 6 weeks into the DRTC

12. Lameness in the Canadian Dairy Industry o The estimate cost of lameness based on literature is $250 per case due to: lower milk production = $40 - $75 lower fertility = $88 - $165 increased risk of culling = $37 treatment cost = $35 o If we can prevent lameness, there would be a $250 benefit for every case prevented

13. Our Recommendations: 1.Change in the footbath protocol 2.Improve flooring and bedding 3.Implement a lameness record keeping program

14. 1. Footbath Protocol Added costs will include: Labour Thymox Water Added benefit will include: $250 for every case of prevented infectious lameness To make the DRTC’s footbath more effective we recommend to: o Increase the solution depth o Increase the frequency of the footbath replacement to every day

15. 1. Footbath Protocol The partial budget shows a net benefit of $71.28 for each case of infectious lameness prevented

16. 2. Improve flooring and bedding o Improving flooring and bedding has the potential to prevent both infectious and non-infectious lameness

17. 2. Improve flooring and bedding Added costs will include: Mattresses Shavings Added benefit will include: $250 for every case of prevented lameness To make the DRTC’s flooring and bedding more effective we recommend to: o Replace the double sponge rubber mattresses for stalls in sections B, C, and D o Use double the amount of shavings o Increase the frequency of rubber mattress replacement

18. 2. Improve flooring and bedding The partial budget shows a net benefit of $141.70/cow/year for each case of lameness prevented

19. 3. Record Keeping o Proper record keeping at the DRTC is necessary to prevent lameness o Allows for tracking of cow lameness For all reasons, whether treated or not o Determine whether barn protocols are successful Indicate if any herd management changes are needed

20. 3. Record Keeping: CowTracker Software

21. Conclusion o Foresee the implementation of our recommendations improving welfare o Project had to be completed in three months: o Tough to report on success of implementation o The proAction assessments will increase the detection of lameness and its causes, resulting in more effective prevention methods ultimately leading to improved welfare.

22. Acknowledgements Jennifer Haisan - Industry Mentor Mike Steele - Academic Mentor Jim Eisen - Canadian Quality Milk Coordinator- Alberta Milk Jodi Flaig - Industry Development Coordinator- Alberta Milk Stephen Briggs - CowTracker Software Development Harold Lehmann - Dairy Research and Technology Centre Martin Zuidhof – University of Alberta

23. References Brambell, R. (1965). Report of the technical committee to enquire into the welfare of animals kept under intensive livestock husbandry systems. London: Her Majesty’s Stationary Office. Dairy Farmers of Canada. 2015. The proAction initiative. (Accessed 16 November 2015.) http://www.dairyfarmers.ca/proaction Garbarino, E.J., J.A. Hernandez, J.K. Shearer, C.A. Risco, and W.W. Thatcher. 2004. Effect of lameness on ovarian activity in postpartum Holstein cows. J. Dariy Sci. 87:4123-4131 Solano, L., H. W. Barkema, E. A. Pajor, S. Mason, S. J. LeBlanc, J. C. Zaffino Heyerhoff, C. G. R. Nash, D. B. Haley, E. Vasseur, D. Pellerin, J. Rushen, A. M. de Pasille and K. Orsel. 2015. Prevalence of lameness and associated risk factors in Canadian Holstein-Friesian cows housed in freestall barns. J. Dairy Sci. 98:6978-6991. doi: 10.3168/jds.2015-9652

24. Photos

25. AcceptableUnacceptable LocomotionNo Limp ExhibitedLimp Exhibited Hock Injury (tarsal joint) <1cm of swelling or a bald spot >1cm of swelling with or without a lesion on the bald area Knee Injury (carpal joint) No swelling and presence or no presence of a bald area Swelling present and/or broken skin or scab Body Condition Score (BCS)BCS ≥ 2BCS ≤ 2 DRTC Report: proAction Assessment

26. 1.Housing Two Main Housing Systems Tie Stall & Free Stall Stall Dimensions/Stall Design Short stalls increase lameness Lay unnaturally causing hock lesions Increase in standing in manure- degrade hoof health Increased hind claw rotation due to sole pain- pressure shifted from lateral to medial claw Increased perching- increased weight on hind limb- leading to hind limb lameness Tie Rail Too close to curb- increased hock lesions Too far forward- increased defecation in stall (degrade hoof health) Flooring Design Alleyways- concrete, provide traction to avoid slipping and falling, smooth enough for cleanliness Stall Base- Concrete and Rubber compared to dirt and sand, increases lameness Feedbunk- Rubber matting, increase comfort to increase dry matter intake

27. 2. Bedding Bedding options Compost bedded pack, recycled manure solids (RMS), sand, sawdust, and straw Availability, cow comfort, price, and ease of handling Effects of bedding materials on Lameness Provides a soft and comfortable cushioning effect Increase cow comfort and lying time Bedding materials reduce lameness more effectively than hard flooring The different levels of bedding A deep-bedded stall is associated with a lower prevalence of lameness Dryness and Cleanliness of bedding Prevent bacterial growth Provide a comfortable bedding surface Daily replacement of bedding is required

28. 3. Hoof Health Major causes of lameness can be infectious or noninfectious origin Digital Dermatitis Caused by bacteria family Spirochetes Prevalence increases with large herd size, non-closed herd, use of multi-operational hoof trimmers, and if lactating cows did not have access to dry pasture Management: biosecurity, treating the reservoir of disease and reducing the spread and redevelopment Infectious Pododermatitis (Foot Rot) Caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum Prevalence increases with access to stubble fields, gravel and abrasive surfaces Management: Prevention: housing in dry, manure free environments, footbaths and vaccines Treatment: injectable antibiotics Other Methods to improve hoof health