Are your cull cows fit for transport
Make sure she’s fit for transport
If you’re unsure, seek advice from your vet.
Data for the last 5 years is as follows:
2019: 762 cases of recumbent female cattle from 1,471,800 processed
2020: 889 cases, from 1,533,156 processed
2021: 812 cases, from 1,550,674 processed
2022: 667 cases, from 1,462,153 processed
2023: 632 cases, from 1,425,110 processed
Transportation is particularly stressful for dairy cows. If they are not prepared for the journey they may go down during transportation. So, preparation is important.
MPI verification services veterinarians at slaughter plants assess all animals for their fitness for processing and to identify animal welfare issues. Any welfare issues are recorded in a national database and a recent review highlights some trends in cull dairy cows sent to slaughter.
Cull dairy cows transported from farm to slaughter still remains a significant animal welfare concern for MPI verification services. Data from the last 5 years shows there has been a slight decrease in the number of down cows during transport, but still remains a major concern, posing a reputational risk to the dairy and meat industries.
A study conducted at 5 slaughter premises showed 80% of down cows were due to milk fever. In the majority of these cases, the farmers had milked the cows and were then sent direct to slaughter without any preparation.
Many cull cows go down during transport due to low blood calcium, brought on by the stress of feed withdrawal, transport and yarding. Constant movement during transport quickly uses up the supply of calcium to muscles to the point where muscles can no longer function properly, resulting in the cow going down.
Minimising the risk of cows going down during transportation can be managed by ensuring calcium intake is optimised prior to transport. Dairy NZ recommends giving each cow 100 grams of limeflour and 60 grams of magnesium (Causemag) as an oral drench, or administered as a slurry over hay prior to transportation.
Dairy cows should not be starved and should have access to water until they are loaded. The stand-off period from green feed is at least 4 hours (but no longer than 12 hours) before transport to reduce effluent spilling onto roads. But, hay or baleage doesn’t need to be withdrawn, so provide access to roughage right up the point of loading.
The following Dairy NZ poster provides a great guide for preparing cull cows for transport.
Dairy cows should not be starved. Stand off pasture for 4-12 hours before transport BUT provide roughage/dry feed and water until loading on the truck. You can then add CALCIUM and magnesium to the hay/baleage/palm kernel.
1. Add 100 grams of lime flour per cow to feed during stand off (4-12 hrs before transport). This provides each cow with 35g of CALCIUM. An alternative supplement can be used but it must contain the equivalent amount of CALCIUM.
2. Also give 60 grams Causmag. Note that this contains Magnesium not CALCIUM so is not a substitute for Calcium supplementation.
The extra CALCIUM could be given as an oral drench, or a slurry poured over dry feed. If no roughage is on hand it is possible to mix with dry feed/meal in troughs in the yard/shed. Use the same rates as for colostrum cow supplementation.
In summary it is essential for the welfare of your cows that they are prepared for transport and receive CALCIUM as well as magnesium supplementation. Good preparation will also maximise your potential economic return. More information can be found here.
Contact your vet for more information.