Enrichment |
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Cattle should be provided elements in their primary environment that allow them to experience pleasure. There is evidence that cattle will use trees, fence posts, and other objects for scratching, especially hard-to-reach parts of the body. In housed systems, dairy cows will use a mechanical or stationary brush within a day of installation, and will push a weighted gate, indicating motivation, to access a brush.
Which animals to assess:
Evaluate pens where hygiene is scored for calves, weaned heifers, springers, and lactating cows
How to assess:
Cattle should have a brush, scratching surface, or other type of enrichment, such as toys or feed puzzles, available in their home pen. Normal structural components of housing, including fences, gates, and hutches, do not count as acceptable scratching surfaces. Trees can count if there is evidence that cattle are using it in this manner.
Enrichment can come in many acceptable formats, but must engage the animals.
Enrichment can come in many acceptable formats, but must engage the animals.
Examples of acceptable enrichment:
Mechanical grooming brushes are engaging for cattle
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This PVC pipe feeder enrichment engages the calf as she pulls hay out
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Stationary brushes are also used by cattle
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Examples of unacceptable enrichment:
Balls do not appear to sufficiently engage cattle
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Tires do not appear to sufficiently engage cattle
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There is currently no repeatability test for this measure.