动物福利及卫生
处理昏睡牛
A downer cow is an animal that cannot stand from a lying down position of rest due to broken bones, 断裂的肌腱或韧带, 神经麻痹, 脊柱骨折或疾病. As a result of a ruling by the United States Department of Agriculture, it is illegal to sell non-ambulatory cows (downer cows) for food consumption. The issue of food safety of non-ambulatory cattle suspected to have mad cow disease was the basis for the development of this rule.
Managing to decrease the number of downer cows on a dairy is the most efficient method to avoid dealing with them. 蹩脚的牛, 受伤的牛, cows with calving difficulties and extremely thin cows are the most likely to become non-ambulatory. 蹩脚的牛 and 受伤的牛 usually become extremely thin because of their inability to go frequently to the feed alley, stand for a long period of time and/or compete with other cows for feed. This typically leads to a substantial decrease in their feed intake.
Many cases of downer cows can be prevented. The following examples of management practices could be followed to minimize the occurrence of downer cows on a dairy:
- Maintain your handling facilities to prevent the occurrence of downer causing injuries.
- Handle cattle quietly and gently to prevent injury.
- Develop good health protocols and closely observe the cows. This will allow you to detect health problems during early stages and treat them accordingly.
- 评估奶牛是否跛足.
- 减少产犊问题. Nerve damage during calving is one of the most common reasons that a cow becomes non-ambulatory. Select sires with appropriate birth weight.
- Cull cows before they become extremely sick. 如果不及早宰杀牛, the dairy risks losing 100 percent of the value of the cow if it becomes downer or if its carcass is condemned. Animals should be culled and harvested as soon as possible before animal health issues progress to advanced stages and become ineligible for slaughter.
- 提供粗糙的表面. Slick surfaces are responsible for a great percentage of injuries that occur on dairies.
- Provide adequate nutrition to cows.
- Monitor body condition of cows. Cows with a Body Condition Score of 2.5 or less typically become weak and are more likely to become disabled when transported.
- 安全运输被淘汰的奶牛. Transporting lame or weak cows can often result in them becoming a downer. 运输牲畜时, be sure that adequate space is provided so cattle can stand without the risk of being forced down due to overcrowding. Do not load cattle that are unable to withstand the rigors of transportation. 如果拖车没有满载, safely partition cattle into smaller areas to provide stability for the cattle.
Be extra careful when handling downer cattle by:
- Immediately determining whether a downer cow should be humanely euthanized or receive additional care.
- Providing feed and water to downer cows at least once daily.
- Not dragging downer cows or lifting them with chains. 如果需要移动, use caretakers to humanely roll the animal onto a sled or low-boy trailer, or into the bucket of a large loader.
- Euthanizing cattle that are unable to sit up unaided or refuse to drink or eat within 24-36 hours of initial onset.
- Not sending downer animals to a livestock auction or a packing plant. These facilities are not the place to dispose of dying or sick cows.
- Selling cows to slaughter before they become downers to provide a better quality of life for the animal and provide economic benefit for the operation.
In some cases, euthanasia should be used. Euthanasia means humane death without pain and suffering, commonly performed on-farm by the owner since a veterinarian may not be immediately available. The decision to euthanize an animal should consider the animal’s welfare.
安乐死理由:
- Severely thin or weak cattle that are at risk of becoming a downer.
- Downer cattle that will not sit up, eat or drink and have not responded to therapy and have been down for 24 hours or more.
- Rapid deterioration of a medical condition.
- 严重的、使人衰弱的疼痛.
- Compound (open) bone fracture, including spinal injury.
- 中枢神经系统疾病.
- Multiple joint infections with chronic weight loss.