When to Look
For certain measures, it is important to observe the animals at a specific time, either for ease of inspection, safety, or to best approximate the animal's health. Please keep these suggestions in mind when planning an audit to ensure you will be able to observe the proper groups of animals at the correct times.
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PAACO Example Audit
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Lactating cows
Locomotion
In herds consisting of a single lactating group, ALL lactating cows will be scored for locomotion upon exiting the parlor or after being milked if in tie-stalls and not released. In large herds with multiple pens, ALL cows in the highest milk producing, oldest pen will be scored for locomotion while exiting the parlor.
Hygiene, body condition, tails
The sample size calculator is used at the pen level to determine the minimum number of cows to score for hygiene, body condition and tails. While it may not be possible to keep track of each animal scored, efforts will be made not to score the same cow twice.
Hocks and knees
Tie stalls
Automatic milking systems (AMS)
In herds consisting of a single lactating group, ALL lactating cows will be scored for locomotion upon exiting the parlor or after being milked if in tie-stalls and not released. In large herds with multiple pens, ALL cows in the highest milk producing, oldest pen will be scored for locomotion while exiting the parlor.
Hygiene, body condition, tails
The sample size calculator is used at the pen level to determine the minimum number of cows to score for hygiene, body condition and tails. While it may not be possible to keep track of each animal scored, efforts will be made not to score the same cow twice.
Hocks and knees
Tie stalls
Automatic milking systems (AMS)
Dry cows and bulls
Hospital pen
In herds consisting of a single lactating group, ALL lactating cows will be scored for locomotion upon exiting the parlor or after being milked if in tie-stalls and not released. In large herds with multiple pens, ALL cows in the highest milk producing, oldest pen will be scored for locomotion while exiting the parlor.
Hock and knee injuries
Hocks and knees should be scored in pens with cows that have had time in the lactating cow environment such that the effect of the environment on the cow will likely be reflected in the outcome. Multiparous, mid- to late-lactation cows should be evaluated. Whenever possible, scoring first lactation and early lactation groups should be avoided.
Measures to score in home pens
Other measures do not benefit the animals or evaluators by assessing them outside of the home pen. These include:
If lock-ups are present, it would be beneficial to use them in large pens of lactating and dry cows when assessing these measures.
- body condition scoring
- hygiene scoring
- neck and body injuries
- broken or docked tails
- dehydration; access to and cleanliness of water
- freedom of space
- trainer placement
- thermal comfort
- lying surface
If lock-ups are present, it would be beneficial to use them in large pens of lactating and dry cows when assessing these measures.
Special considerations
Tie Stalls
It is common that audits do not require that cows be released from tie-stalls if it is not the normal procedure for the farm. Cows in tie-stall barns are typically scored for hocks, tails, hygiene and body condition while in the stalls during milking. If released from tie-stalls at the conclusion of milking, locomotion should be evaluated upon release from the stall. If locomotion must be scored in the tie-stalls it should be done once the milking units are removed.
Automatic Milking Systems (AMS)
In robotic parlor herds (AMS) locomotion will be scored inside the pen along with other outcomes. It is recognized that assessing locomotion in herds with AMS requires additional consideration. To score locomotion in AMS herds, the audit can be scheduled on days where bedding is being added or with other management events that require cows to be locked up or moved from one area to another to facilitate observation of locomotion. In some cases, where farms have only 1 lactating pen, on tie-stalls where cows are released or on AMS herds video monitoring may be used to assess locomotion.
It is common that audits do not require that cows be released from tie-stalls if it is not the normal procedure for the farm. Cows in tie-stall barns are typically scored for hocks, tails, hygiene and body condition while in the stalls during milking. If released from tie-stalls at the conclusion of milking, locomotion should be evaluated upon release from the stall. If locomotion must be scored in the tie-stalls it should be done once the milking units are removed.
Automatic Milking Systems (AMS)
In robotic parlor herds (AMS) locomotion will be scored inside the pen along with other outcomes. It is recognized that assessing locomotion in herds with AMS requires additional consideration. To score locomotion in AMS herds, the audit can be scheduled on days where bedding is being added or with other management events that require cows to be locked up or moved from one area to another to facilitate observation of locomotion. In some cases, where farms have only 1 lactating pen, on tie-stalls where cows are released or on AMS herds video monitoring may be used to assess locomotion.