The Cow during Milking - Influence of the Housing Environment and Humans
2009
Troxler, J., Veterinaermedizinische Universitaet Wien, Wien (Austria). Institut fuer Tierhaltung und Tierschutz
Milking is a complex process that has evolved over the course of domestication. Even with today’s cutting-edge technology, ethological and physiological mechanisms must be borne in mind in order to ensure the wellbeing of the animals and achieve optimum milk yield. The manner in which cows perceive environmental stimuli forms the basis for the design of the housing and the way in which livestock is handled. Indicators such as kicking, striking at the milking cluster, restlessness, delayed entry in the milking parlour as well as increased stress hormones and heart rate are suitable indicators for assessing the milking process. Despite this, milking must not be seen in isolation from the actual milking process. Housing, herd management, animal health and the human-animal relationship are decisive factors in milking.
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