SOME INDICATORS OF COMFORT IN DAIRY COWS –A REVIEW PART 1

Dairy industry is focused on optimizing production. Humane treatment and cow welfare are key points in achieving this. This review aims to assist farmers and any professional related to dairy industry in evaluating and improving dairy cattle comfort by utilizing some indicators. The literature searc...

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Main Authors: G. Bachevska, D. Dimov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Trakia University 2025-06-01
Series:Trakia Journal of Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://tjs.trakia-uni.bg/index.php/tjs/article/view/122/135
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author G. Bachevska
D. Dimov
author_facet G. Bachevska
D. Dimov
author_sort G. Bachevska
collection DOAJ
description Dairy industry is focused on optimizing production. Humane treatment and cow welfare are key points in achieving this. This review aims to assist farmers and any professional related to dairy industry in evaluating and improving dairy cattle comfort by utilizing some indicators. The literature search done is on studies of conditions of the housing environment and level of feeding affecting welfare. Heat stress due to annual increase of global temperature becomes a constant obstacle for dairy cattle farming and not only. Three cow comfort indices are the most used to assess comfort of cows through quantitative parameters - Cow Comfort Index (CCI), Stall Usage Index (SUI) and Stall Standing Index (SSI). Cows spend more time standing when the stall does not provide the comfort they need. Body Condition Score (BCS) is key for herd management and good health. This assessment should be done at each stage of lactation, so that timely and effective measures could be taken if adjustments in nutrition are necessary.
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spelling doaj-art-9388c4b61de74e5bae2d26d0fc109a7c2025-07-31T08:28:01ZengTrakia UniversityTrakia Journal of Sciences1313-35512025-06-0123214615510.15547/tjs.2025.02.010SOME INDICATORS OF COMFORT IN DAIRY COWS –A REVIEW PART 1G. BachevskaD. DimovDairy industry is focused on optimizing production. Humane treatment and cow welfare are key points in achieving this. This review aims to assist farmers and any professional related to dairy industry in evaluating and improving dairy cattle comfort by utilizing some indicators. The literature search done is on studies of conditions of the housing environment and level of feeding affecting welfare. Heat stress due to annual increase of global temperature becomes a constant obstacle for dairy cattle farming and not only. Three cow comfort indices are the most used to assess comfort of cows through quantitative parameters - Cow Comfort Index (CCI), Stall Usage Index (SUI) and Stall Standing Index (SSI). Cows spend more time standing when the stall does not provide the comfort they need. Body Condition Score (BCS) is key for herd management and good health. This assessment should be done at each stage of lactation, so that timely and effective measures could be taken if adjustments in nutrition are necessary.https://tjs.trakia-uni.bg/index.php/tjs/article/view/122/135cow comfortdairy cattlecow welfare
spellingShingle G. Bachevska
D. Dimov
SOME INDICATORS OF COMFORT IN DAIRY COWS –A REVIEW PART 1
Trakia Journal of Sciences
cow comfort
dairy cattle
cow welfare
title SOME INDICATORS OF COMFORT IN DAIRY COWS –A REVIEW PART 1
title_full SOME INDICATORS OF COMFORT IN DAIRY COWS –A REVIEW PART 1
title_fullStr SOME INDICATORS OF COMFORT IN DAIRY COWS –A REVIEW PART 1
title_full_unstemmed SOME INDICATORS OF COMFORT IN DAIRY COWS –A REVIEW PART 1
title_short SOME INDICATORS OF COMFORT IN DAIRY COWS –A REVIEW PART 1
title_sort some indicators of comfort in dairy cows a review part 1
topic cow comfort
dairy cattle
cow welfare
url https://tjs.trakia-uni.bg/index.php/tjs/article/view/122/135
work_keys_str_mv AT gbachevska someindicatorsofcomfortindairycowsareviewpart1
AT ddimov someindicatorsofcomfortindairycowsareviewpart1