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| Animal Welfare and the Dairy IndustryThe fall in farm gate milk prices has increased the pressure on dairy farmers. This has happened on top of a prolonged period where rain has slowed pasture growth and paddocks have become muddy. Despite these challenges, it is important that dairy cattle continue to be fed properly and that everyone in the dairy industry acts properly to maintain good cattle welfare. The following points may help:
- Stocking rates - It is important to make decisions about feeding stock and culling poor stock early rather than late. Good decisions will not only minimise animal welfare risks, they will also help improve the financial returns during this difficult period;
- Light cows 1 - The best options are either drying off or shifting to once a day milking. They should then be run separately from the main herd to avoid being bullied away from the feed. This should enable them to pick up in condition and ultimately return to the main herd and get back in calf;
- Light cows 2 - Any cow calving at less than condition score 3 is going to be at significant risk of a range of health and welfare problems. These animals will need a lot of extra care. It makes sense to consider whether you are going to be able to manage these cows before you commit to providing that special care – especially if you are going to have to rely on imported feed for part of the diet for an extended period;
- Trucking light cattle - Cattle should not be trucked if they are light and at risk of going down during the journey. If they are to be trucked to an abattoir, they must also be strong enough to be held overnight without going down. Any cow too weak to be trucked should be humanely euthanased on the farm and promptly buried.
- Downer cattle - These must be treated in accordance with good industry practice. They must never be left to die. They must be either treated or humanely euthanased. If you decide to treat, do not go beyond three days before seeking veterinary advice on the likely survival/recovery prospects.
 Under recent changes to the Animal Welfare Act, there are now many classes of people deemed to be responsible for the welfare of animals. In practice, this means that in addition to the owner, people have some responsibility if they have cattle on agistment or loan, if they are a livestock carrier or livestock agent or if they, in any other way, have the animals in their care. Please understand that the current difficult conditions do not, in any way, reduce any responsibilities you may have for the welfare of animals in your care.
If you have any question or want advice about any aspect of animal welfare, there are several sources of help for you – DPIPWE vets and animal welfare officers, the RSPCA , the Dairy Centre of the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research and, of course, your regular private vet.
For advice on animal welfare:
DPIPWE Animal Health and Welfare branch – Phone (03) 6233 6875 or email: AnimalWelfareEnquiries@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
RSPCA Tasmania – Phone 1300 139 947
TIAR Dairy Centre - Phone (03) 6421 7601
To report animal cruelty:
DPIPWE Animal Health and Welfare branch – Phone (03) 6233 6875 or email: AnimalWelfareEnquiries@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
RSPCA Tasmania - Phone 1300 139 947 or email: inspector@rspcatas.org.au
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