Animal welfare issues in dairy cattle production

Abstract

Cow's milk is an essential food, with a high nutritional value, globally consumed as one of the first foods from the growth stage onwards. To obtain good quality milk, we have to focus on dairy cattle farms, from raising calves to rearing heifers and caring for adult cows. Due to the great social awareness that exists today regarding the type of food, there is a general concern about the quality of the product. It is taken into account from the quality itself and the quality of the processes to which the final product has been subjected, going from the well-being of the animals in terms of their food, health, and treatment throughout their productive life. That is why standards and guidelines are established to ensure the welfare of animals, but not aspects of animal welfare are normally covered by these recommendations. Here we propose different issues to be considered to complement animal welfare in dairy cattle