The 30/30 Club: Metabolic Breaking Point, or Fulfilling Genetic Potential

Have We Forgotten about Animal Welfare?

Authors

  • Nigel B. Cook School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20104080

Keywords:

metabolism, animal welfare, hormones, feed additives, confinement, factory farming, dairy cattle

Abstract

Major consumer concerns exist over current dairy practices that relate to herd size and "factory farming", lack of grazing in our production systems, and the "hyper-production" of our dairy cows. If we are to believe animal activists and mainstream media, largescale confinement dairy herds are places where cows are forced to milk around the clock, and individuals are pushed to the breaking point with the use of hormones and feed additives, resulting in metabolic disease, poor well-being, and premature death. Using three real herds as examples, this article discusses the pros and cons of different production systems and asks whether there is any truth behind these claims. Have we pushed the dairy cow to metabolic breaking point and forgotten about animal welfare - or is there a different story to tell?

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Published

2010-08-19

Issue

Section

General Sessions