Brindle John E, Renaud David L, Haley Derek B, Duffield Todd F, Winder Charlotte B
Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Front Vet Sci. 2025 Mar 4;12:1519284. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1519284. eCollection 2025.
This cross-sectional study assessed what management practices veterinarians recommended for down dairy cows in Ontario, Canada, and identified factors influencing producers' adoption of protocols. An online survey about veterinary involvement in down cow management was available between February and May 2021, distributed by email through the Ontario Association of Bovine Practitioners (OABP). A total of 48 Ontario bovine veterinarians responded (26.8% response rate). Gender distribution was even between those identifying as male or female (50%), and the majority of respondents were between 30 to 39 years old. Veterinarians most commonly suggested housing down dairy cows in individual pens (40.7%), followed by pasture (29.6%), special pens for three or fewer animals (26%), and special pens for four or more animals (3.7%). Regarding spacing allowance for a down dairy cow, many veterinarians suggested 11.1 (120) to 23.2 (120-250 square feet) square meters (53.3%) per cow. Recommendations for moving down dairy cows included using a sled (62.5%), stone boat (56.3%), front-end loader bucket (45.8%), wheeled cart (20.8%), and hip-lifter (2.1%). For lifting down dairy cows, recommendations included using multiband slings (56.2%), hip lifters (43.8%), floatation tanks (25.0%), single belly slings (14.6%), ropes (4.2%), and hip lifters with additional straps (2.1%). A multivariable linear regression model identified key factors associated with the recommended time to assist a down cow to stand. Specifically, veterinarians who spent over 90% of their working hours annually with dairy cattle recommended assisting cows 14.1 h earlier than those who spent less than 85% of their time working with dairy cattle. Additionally, larger clinics advised waiting 12.4 h longer compared to smaller clinics, and veterinarians who recommended waiting 12-24 h before calling a veterinarian suggested assisting cows 13.8 h later than those recommending a wait of less than 7 h. Implementing a more consistent, evidence-based approach by veterinarians could enhance the care of down dairy cows and support the broader objective of improving management protocols.
这项横断面研究评估了加拿大安大略省兽医针对卧地奶牛推荐的管理措施，并确定了影响养殖户采用相关方案的因素。2021年2月至5月期间开展了一项关于兽医参与卧地奶牛管理情况的在线调查，通过安大略省牛科兽医协会（OABP）以电子邮件方式分发。共有48名安大略省的牛科兽医做出回应（回应率为26.8%）。在表明自己为男性或女性的受访者中，性别分布均匀（各占50%），大多数受访者年龄在30至39岁之间。兽医最常建议将卧地奶牛安置在单独的围栏中（40.7%），其次是牧场（29.6%）、容纳三头及以下奶牛的特殊围栏（26%）以及容纳四头及以上奶牛的特殊围栏（3.7%）。关于卧地奶牛的空间 allowance，许多兽医建议每头牛11.1（120）至23.2（120 - 250平方英尺）平方米（53.3%）。转移卧地奶牛的建议包括使用雪橇（62.5%）、石船（56.3%）、前端装载机铲斗（45.8%）、轮式推车（20.8%）和臀部提升器（2.1%）。对于抬起卧地奶牛，建议包括使用多带式吊索（56.2%）、臀部提升器（43.8%）、漂浮槽（25.0%）、单腹式吊索（14.6%）、绳索（4.2%）以及带附加绑带的臀部提升器（2.1%）。一个多变量线性回归模型确定了与建议协助卧地奶牛站立时间相关的关键因素。具体而言，每年90%以上工作时间用于奶牛的兽医建议协助奶牛站立的时间比那些工作时间少于85%用于奶牛的兽医早14.1小时。此外，大型诊所建议等待的时间比小型诊所长12.4小时，并且建议在呼叫兽医前等待12 - 24小时的兽医建议协助奶牛站立的时间比那些建议等待时间少于7小时的兽医晚13.8小时。兽医采用更一致、基于证据的方法可以加强对卧地奶牛的护理，并支持改善管理方案这一更广泛的目标。
