Understanding the Behaviour and Improving the Welfare of Dairy Cattle

The welfare of farmed animals such as cattle is an increasing concern for consumers and regulatory agencies. This book explores the science behind our understanding of dairy cow behaviour and ways to improve their welfare.

Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of dairy cattle summarises this wealth of recent research and reviews dairy cattle behaviour in areas such as cognition, learning, pain and stress. The collection features authoritative assessments by leading experts on developments in welfare indicators, monitoring and certification, as well as approaches to improve welfare practices of calves, heifers and transition cows at different stages of production including housing, transport and slaughter.

With its distinguished author team and wide-ranging coverage, Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of dairy cattle will be a standard reference for university and other researchers in dairy and veterinary science as well as ethology. It will also be a key reference for government and other agencies involved in regulating and monitoring farm animal welfare, as well as dairy farmers and companies processing milk and other dairy products.

Dr Marcia Endres is Professor of Dairy Cattle Production at the University of Minnesota, USA. She is past-President of the Dairy Cattle Welfare Council as well as Chair of the International Precision Dairy Farming Organisation. Professor Endres is internationally renowned for her research on dairy cattle welfare and the use of precision farming technology in the dairy sector.