Formation of a network to develop an animal welfare concept considering sensory perception of cows for the dairy barn of the FBN Dummerstorf as an experimental farm exploring innovative husbandry and management solutions for dairy cows and their offspring (IGG)

Project

Project code: 28N303903
Contract period: 01.06.2021 - 30.11.2021
Budget: 7,762 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: husbandry techniques, milk, cattle , stable building, animal health, animal welfare

Aim of the present proposal is the formation of an innovation network to develop a barn concept, which focusses on the animal and its needs. Extensive investments in new and updated barns for dairy cows within the last years could improve the conditions of animal husbandry. However, there is further need to upgrade livestock farming in terms of animal welfare and health. Particularly, for cows around parturition and for calves the prevalence of diseases is not acceptable. The complex influences on animal welfare and health require an interdisciplinary approach. For the purposes of the network, we will consider the physiological essentials of animal behavior, nutrition, and reproduction as well as practical aspects of barn design, feeding technique and monitoring of animal health. Furthermore, we will implement a sustainable hygiene concept to prevent infectious diseases and to reduce the usage of antimicrobial substances in dairies. In accordance with the One-Health-concept, improvements of animal health will also improve human health conditions, because less usage of antibiotics reduce the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Beyond the criteria of animal welfare and health, the sensory perception and typical behavior of cows and calves shall be considered when assessing cattle husbandry. Precisely, the applicants would like to create a concept for animal welfare and health considering behavior and sensory perception for the dairy barn of the FBN in Dummerstorf to build an experimental dairy farm. This barn ('Dairy farm of the future') shall serve as an experimental farm to explore innovative solutions for animal husbandry and management to improve animal welfare and therefore, enhance animal health, robustness, and longevity of dairy cows and their offspring. -Kick-off meeting: first joint meeting of all corporation partners to build an innovation network and in addition, inspection of the dairy barn in Dummerstorf including workshop 'cow signals' - Progress meeting with invitation of further experts of the issues of the consortia (working group (WG) animal health, WG animal welfare, WG animal behavior and sensory perception) - Two workshops of each consortium (WG animal health, WG animal welfare, WG animal behavior and sensory perception): draft of a barn concept regarding animal health, welfare, behavior, and sensory perception - Meeting with coordinators of other innovation networks for exchange of ideas and to make use of synergistic effects - Proposal meeting: Development of a concerted barn concept for the experimental barn of dairy cows and their offspring in Dummerstorf, which includes criteria of animal health, welfare, behavior, and sensory perception and which differs in some aspects from the concept of other innovation networks to increase the variety of experimental barns. - Submit a proprosal for the second project phase with specific suggestions for the modification of the cattle husbandry in Dummerstorf to a 'dairy farm of the future'

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Animal Husbandry

Animal health

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