title: Welfare-positive management and nutrition for the dairy herd: a European perspective.
abstract: As European dairy farms become larger and diverge between grass-based and fully housed systems, interest in the welfare of the dairy cow and related environmental issues by consumers and legislators is increasing. These pressures mean that good nutrition and management, which underpin much dairy cow welfare, is critical. Despite considerable research into the management and nutrition of the dairy cow from calf to adulthood there is much on-farm variability in its application. While the incidences of many endemic diseases are reduced most are still significant, for example lameness. In addition, trade and climate change are bringing a more diverse range of pathogens, parasites and pests into Northern Europe. Housing aspects are limited in application by economics and in most cases still do not match grazing for welfare in temperate climates. Genomic technologies offer increased opportunities to breed for 'robustness' but like 'precision animal management systems' have still to be fully exploited.
authors.affiliation: Large Animal Division, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK. Electronic address: davidlogue@dsl.pipex.com.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Logue
authors.affiliation: Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute, 18a NewForge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, UK.
authors.forename: C Sinclair
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Mayne
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003612:Dairying / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female
keywords: Dairy cow; Nutrition; Quality-of-life; Welfare