Low farm investment and poor herding practices may pose risks to cow welfare in expanding dairy herds

摘要

Since the abolition of quotas there has been expansion in the Irish dairy industry. Good infrastructure and herding practices are critical to minimise risks to cow welfare in expanded herds (Boyle and Rutter, 2013). The aim of this study was to investigate changes in, and industry opinions about, infrastructure and management on Irish farms in the three years before quota abolition (2012 - 2015).