FIDA Welfare and Behavior

With increasing  societal  concern for animal care, the sustainability of animal agriculture depends on refining livestock systems to address animal welfare concerns.  This course explores  the latest science  and considerations   surrounding the assessment and improvement of  dairy cattle welfare. Course content will include an overview of the scientific literature describing key factors challenging the welfare of dairy cattle, including aspects of housing, feeding,   and pain management, with a focus on the role of animal behavior in understanding animal welfare. Discussion will also encompass societal perspectives on dairy cattle welfare, as well as practical solutions to improve animal welfare using science-based approaches.  Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 1)  Describe key welfare challenges for dairy cattle in terms of their impact on  animal performance,  behavioral expression, and subjective experience ;  and   2)  Identify  solutions and management recommendations to improve dairy cattle welfare through application of basic understanding of dairy cattle behavio r.   

Instructor: Dr. Emily Miller-Cushon

For more information about our program and other course offerings, visit our website at https://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/fida/.
Please contact us through the following email if you have any questions or concerns: FIDA@ifas.ufl.edu.