Hospital and Down Cow Pens |
|
Quality of life is a key consideration when evaluating animals in the hospital/special needs/chronic pens. If close attention is not paid, animals may be allowed to linger when treatments are not practical or unlikely to be effective, which can lead to increased suffering.
There is evidence that sick cows will seek isolation from other cows if given the opportunity. Overcrowded lying areas can increase aggressive behavior and reduce lying time, while overcrowded feeding areas also increase aggression, particularly for subordinate cows. Sick cows often spend less time eating than healthy cows.
There is evidence that sick cows will seek isolation from other cows if given the opportunity. Overcrowded lying areas can increase aggressive behavior and reduce lying time, while overcrowded feeding areas also increase aggression, particularly for subordinate cows. Sick cows often spend less time eating than healthy cows.
Which animals to assess:
Evaluate any dedicated pens for sick or injured animals.
How to assess:
Hospital or sick pens must be provided to isolate sick and injured animals from the rest of the herd. These pens should provide at least 100 sq. ft. (9.3m2) of bedded area per cow and at least 30" (75 cm) of accessible bunk space per cow, or 1 head lock per cow, unless individually housed (calf pens, box pens, tiestalls).
Down cow pens will be evaluated for compliance with the non-ambulatory cattle care SOP. Down cows must be isolated from ambulatory cattle and have fresh feed within reach (nose length). Assess hydration of any non-ambulatory animals.
Sick and injured cattle must have evidence of care and treatment. Write down up to 10 individual IDs and check records to confirm that all are receiving treatment.
"Everywhere" criteria will still be assessed in hospital and down cow pens.
Down cow pens will be evaluated for compliance with the non-ambulatory cattle care SOP. Down cows must be isolated from ambulatory cattle and have fresh feed within reach (nose length). Assess hydration of any non-ambulatory animals.
Sick and injured cattle must have evidence of care and treatment. Write down up to 10 individual IDs and check records to confirm that all are receiving treatment.
"Everywhere" criteria will still be assessed in hospital and down cow pens.
Examples:
|
This pen provides ample space for the cattle and has overhead shade and a soft lying area. If these animals are ambulatory, this would be an acceptable hospital pen.
If some of these cattle are non-ambulatory, this would not be an acceptable down cow pen. If these cattle are all non-ambulatory, they would need to be checked for hydration and presence of food within a nose length for this to be an acceptable down cow pen. |
|
|
This down cow has ample space and is isolated from other ambulatory animals, but has no shade, food, or water. This would not be an acceptable down cow pen.
|
|
|
Hospital pens must provide at least 100 sq. ft. of bedded area per animal. Depending on the number of cattle in this hospital pen, there may not be enough space provided when this door is closed during inclement weather. In that case, this would not be an acceptable hospital pen.
|
|
|
This cow is in an individual tiestall with a soft lying space and access to feed and water. This would count as an acceptable hospital or down cow pen.
|
|
There is currently no repeatability test for this measure.