Euthanasia of Danish dairy cows evaluated in two questionnaire surveys
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mortality risk in Danish dairy cows has more than doubled since 1990 (from 2% in 1990 to 5% in 2005). Until now, registrations about dead cows in the Danish Cattle Database have not included information about whether the cow died una...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2008-08-01
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| Series: | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| Online Access: | http://www.actavetscand.com/content/50/1/33 |
| _version_ | 1818758444315836416 |
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| author | Sørensen Jan Thomsen Peter T |
| author_facet | Sørensen Jan Thomsen Peter T |
| author_sort | Sørensen Jan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mortality risk in Danish dairy cows has more than doubled since 1990 (from 2% in 1990 to 5% in 2005). Until now, registrations about dead cows in the Danish Cattle Database have not included information about whether the cow died unassisted or was euthanized.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We interviewed a random sample of 196 Danish dairy farmers that had reported a dead cow to the Danish Cattle Database in 2002 and 196 dairy farmers that had reported a dead cow in 2006. Our objectives were to evaluate the proportion of euthanized cows, changes in the behaviour of farmers regarding euthanasia of cows over the years and possible reasons for these changes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>It seems that the threshold for euthanasia of cows among farmers has changed. Farmers generally reported a lower threshold for euthanasia compared to 5–10 years ago.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The threshold for euthanasia of cows has, according to the dairy farmers, become lower. This might have positive impacts on animal welfare as more seriously ill cows are euthanized in the herds and not put through a period of suffering associated with disease and treatment or transported to a slaughterhouse in poor condition.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T06:26:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0aaf0fec43cb4dafba1976c87de264c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-0147 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T06:26:56Z |
| publishDate | 2008-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| spelling | doaj.art-0aaf0fec43cb4dafba1976c87de264c22022-12-21T21:18:00ZengBMCActa Veterinaria Scandinavica1751-01472008-08-015013310.1186/1751-0147-50-33Euthanasia of Danish dairy cows evaluated in two questionnaire surveysSørensen JanThomsen Peter T<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mortality risk in Danish dairy cows has more than doubled since 1990 (from 2% in 1990 to 5% in 2005). Until now, registrations about dead cows in the Danish Cattle Database have not included information about whether the cow died unassisted or was euthanized.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We interviewed a random sample of 196 Danish dairy farmers that had reported a dead cow to the Danish Cattle Database in 2002 and 196 dairy farmers that had reported a dead cow in 2006. Our objectives were to evaluate the proportion of euthanized cows, changes in the behaviour of farmers regarding euthanasia of cows over the years and possible reasons for these changes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>It seems that the threshold for euthanasia of cows among farmers has changed. Farmers generally reported a lower threshold for euthanasia compared to 5–10 years ago.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The threshold for euthanasia of cows has, according to the dairy farmers, become lower. This might have positive impacts on animal welfare as more seriously ill cows are euthanized in the herds and not put through a period of suffering associated with disease and treatment or transported to a slaughterhouse in poor condition.</p>http://www.actavetscand.com/content/50/1/33 |
| spellingShingle | Sørensen Jan Thomsen Peter T Euthanasia of Danish dairy cows evaluated in two questionnaire surveys Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| title | Euthanasia of Danish dairy cows evaluated in two questionnaire surveys |
| title_full | Euthanasia of Danish dairy cows evaluated in two questionnaire surveys |
| title_fullStr | Euthanasia of Danish dairy cows evaluated in two questionnaire surveys |
| title_full_unstemmed | Euthanasia of Danish dairy cows evaluated in two questionnaire surveys |
| title_short | Euthanasia of Danish dairy cows evaluated in two questionnaire surveys |
| title_sort | euthanasia of danish dairy cows evaluated in two questionnaire surveys |
| url | http://www.actavetscand.com/content/50/1/33 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sørensenjan euthanasiaofdanishdairycowsevaluatedintwoquestionnairesurveys AT thomsenpetert euthanasiaofdanishdairycowsevaluatedintwoquestionnairesurveys |