Albright J L
J Dairy Sci. 1983 Oct;66(10):2208-20. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(83)82070-0.
Most producers are as humane in their thinking and care of animals as are those people involved in the many activist organizations springing up around the United States. That there are no major problems of animal welfare with the dairy cow posed by changes of systems has been suggested. However, veal producers have been criticized for their production practices. The major areas to be resolved between animal welfare advocates and commercial veal producers is the matter of individual pens versus group systems that permit general freedom of movement. Recent developments of dairy cattle management that have improved the comfort and well-being of dairy cattle include raising of calves in individual pens or hutches; exercise prior to calving; change of flooring (grooving of concrete, use of dirt exercise lots, elimination of slats); use of free stalls rather than loose housing; use of materials to keep cows dry, clean, out of the mud, cool, and free from flies and pests; and elimination of stray voltage. Design of a system for animal welfare is only part of the solution. The most important factor in determining stress in the herd is the behavior, attitude, and consistency of the caretaker.
大多数养殖者在对待动物的观念和照料方式上，与美国各地涌现的众多激进组织中的人们一样有人道精神。有人认为，养殖系统的改变并未给奶牛的动物福利带来重大问题。然而，小牛肉生产商却因其生产方式而受到批评。动物福利倡导者与商业小牛肉生产商之间需要解决的主要问题，是单个围栏与允许动物自由活动的群体养殖系统的问题。奶牛管理方面的最新进展改善了奶牛的舒适度和健康状况，包括在单个围栏或小棚中饲养犊牛；产犊前进行运动；更换地面（混凝土开槽、使用泥土地面运动场地、取消板条）；使用自由牛栏而非开放式牛舍；使用材料保持奶牛干燥、清洁、不沾泥、凉爽且免受苍蝇和害虫侵扰；以及消除杂散电压。设计动物福利系统只是解决方案的一部分。决定畜群应激程度的最重要因素是饲养员的行为、态度和连贯性。
