Can 60 days of feeding lead to increased fitness for transport in cull dairy cows?

ABSTRACT

Welfare of cull cows during transport to slaughter is a current concern in the Canadian dairy industry. Cull cows sold through auction often have a high prevalence of lameness, low body condition score (BCS), hock lesions, and udder engorgement. To evaluate whether drying off and feeding cull dairy cows before transport can mitigate these challenges, 45 cows designated for culling were randomly assigned to either be fed for 60 d after being dried off (Fed; n = 24) or to serve as controls by being sent directly to slaughter (Direct; n = 21). Two Fed cows were removed for health reasons before completing the feeding period. Both Fed and Direct cows were assessed for locomotion (5-point scale), BCS (5-point scale), hock lesions (3-point scale), udder engorgement (3-point scale) and body weight at the time of enrollment. Fed cows, locomotion, BCS, hock, and udder engorgement scores were assessed weekly until slaughter. Weights of the Fed cows were measured again the day before slaughter. Mixed linear regression models were used to assess continuous outcomes BCS and weight. Mixed logistic regression models were used to assess dichotomous outcomes presence of hock lesions and lameness. Fed cows gained an average of 116.9 kg over the feeding period (SE ± 8.20). Fed cows had an average weight at slaughter of 834.2 kg, whereas Direct cows' average weight was 767.3 kg (SE ± 26.8). The Fed cows' average BCS at the start of the trial was 2.4, and at slaughter was 3.6, with an average gain of 1.2 BCS points. At slaughter, proportion of udders involuted in the Fed group was 45.1% (10 out of 22) and in the Direct cows, was 0% (0 out of 21). There were no differences found in locomotion or hock lesions between the Fed and Direct groups. It is important to weigh potential benefits for the Fed cows with the fact that Direct cows did not endure a drying off procedure, nor were they placed at risk of potential adverse health events. However, despite these potential limitations, due to the improved BCS and udder engorgement scores, cows fed for 60 d may be better prepared for transportation to slaughter, as well as sell for a higher price due to increased body weight and body condition.