Instant Insights: Improving the Health and Welfare of Heifers and Calves

The collection of peer-reviewed reviews discusses improving the welfare of heifers and calves by optimizing reproductive management, addressing behavioral needs, and highlighting the importance of youngstock/calf management.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 108 pages
Publication date: 21 November 2023
Publisher: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited

This comprehensive collection offers valuable insights into improving the welfare of heifers and calves through three peer-reviewed reviews. In the first chapter, the focus is on optimizing reproductive management as a key strategy for maximizing dairy herd health and productivity. The chapter begins by outlining the steps involved in identifying reproductive issues and constraints, as well as the emergence of monitoring technologies that can detect changes in animal behavior and patterns, indicating the presence of disease.

The second chapter provides a summary of recent research that sheds light on the behavioral needs of pre-weaned calves and post-weaned heifers. It encompasses various aspects such as social interactions, feeding practices, rest and comfort, as well as opportunities for behavioral expression. The chapter also delves into the consequences of restricting these behaviors, including the development of abnormal oral behaviors.

The final chapter emphasizes the crucial role of youngstock/calf management in optimizing dairy herd health and welfare in both the short-term and long-term. It explores the impacts of calfhood nutritional management and calfhood diseases on subsequent dairy herd health, as well as the role of veterinarians in communicating best practices in youngstock management.

By delving into these critical aspects, this collection provides valuable guidance for farmers, veterinarians, and researchers seeking to enhance the well-being and productivity of heifers and calves in the dairy industry.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781801466431