Gemma Robinson

Student number: 20021859

Group A farm: Discuss the effect on the health of a dairy ow of overstocking a cubicle shed.

Word count: 1090

Overstocking cows in a cubicle shed means that there are too many animals for that space to
properly accommodate, i.e., there is less than one cubicle per cow. Farmers will sometimes
overstock dairy cows in a cubicle shed for multiple reasons, usually to cut costs of building and
maintaining new structures or when growth of the herd exceeds the farmers ability to build new
facilities, such as feed lots and rest stalls (Dr. Naomi Botheras., 2006). In this paper, I aim to discuss
the effect overstocking cows in a cubicle shed has on the cow’s health.

There is there is a clear correlation between the stocking density and lying time. Fregonsei et al.,
2017 observed a decrease in lying time from 12.9 hours a day to 11.2 hours when the stocking rate
increased from 100% (one cubicle per cow) to 150% (50% less cubicles per cow) (J.A. Fregonesi, C.B.
Tucker, D.M. Weary., 2007. Although this research was conducted 14 years ago, it is still reliable as
its results are consistent with more recent papers, such as (Dr. Naomi Botheras., 2006 and G.L.
Charlton et al., 2014. This shows overstocked cows are forced to stand for abnormally long periods,
(especially submissive cows). This is an issue because it is a key indicator of cow comfort (G. L
Charlton et al., 2014) and because it increases the risk of the cow developing non-infectious claw
lesions. F. C. Leonard*, J. M. O'colnnel, K. J, O'farrell., 1996 found heifers found to lie down
approximately five out of twenty-four hours had a four in seven chance of developing claw lesions
after four months. The most common claw lesions are sole haemorrhages, caused by damage to the
corium (by pressure), leading to leaking serum or blood being incorporated into new sole horn and
are usually present on outer claws of both hind feet. As well as sole ulcers, caused by the soft tissue
inside the sole (usually when the sole and heel bulb meet) being damaged from a pressure point at
the back of the sole, leading to poor horn formation, so that normal horn cannot be produced (it is a
more severe form of sole haemorrhage) (ahdb., 2018).

Overstocked cows are exposed to higher social stressors compared with correctly stocked cows.
(Note that research into this topic, such as M. Fustini et al., 2017 is highly valid, as it used very
reliable methods, such as measuring the levels of stress in cows through saliva tests to measure
cortisol, a stress). In the cubicle shed, social stressors usually consist of subordinate cows being
replaced at feed bunk and cubicles and increased incidences of aggression in the herd, especially
when displacing cows at the feed lot. (Peter D. Krawczel, PhD, Amanda R. Lee, MS., 2019). This has
physical impacts on their health, such as increased risk of bovine respiratory disease (or pneumonia).
This occurs when stress impacts the immune system, giving the normally controlled bacteria present
in a cow’s upper respiratory tract opportunity to spread to the lower respiratory tract, causing
coughing, nasal and ocular discharge, depressed appetite, laboured breathing and sometimes death.
It is caused by the virus infectious bovine rhi-notracheitis (IBR), parainfluenza-3 virus, or the bacteria
Pastueurwlla multocida or haemophilus sommus. Bacterial infections are treated with antimicrobials
and therefore increasing the prevalence of bovine respiratory disease will increase the risk of
antimicrobial resistance (Clive J. C. Phillips., 2018).

Increasing the stocking density also decreases hygiene withing the cubicle shed. When there are
more cows per cubicle, there will naturally be an increase in the volume of faeces in that space,
causing poorer hygiene and health problems (K.C. Creutzinger et al., 2021). As cows will often be
forced to stand in wet areas contaminated by faces for prolonged periods of time, they are at an
increased risk of contracting an infectious claw lesion, due to high levels of pathogens in the muck
and standing in wet conditions softens the hoof horn to make the region even more vulnerable
(overstocking also increases the duration cows will be standing for, putting additional pressure on
the hoof) ( J.A. Fregonesi, C.B. Tucker, D.M. Weary., 2007). The most frequent lesions are digital
dermatitis, where infection of the soft tissue between the claw and the heel which causes painful
skin erosion. As well as heel horn erosion, where enzymes from certain bacteria erode the horn at
the heel, causing destruction of the horn heel and interfering with the hoofs shock absorbing
capabilities, causing the cow to shift her weight onto other parts of the hoof which can give rise to
secondary problems like sole ulcer or sile haemorrhage (ahdb., 2018).

This increase in muck at in the cattle shed also results in an increase in environmental mastitis in the
herd. Environmental mastitis is caused by bacteria which is spread primarily outside of the milking
parlour, usually from faecal origin and the bedding it contaminates (Richard Laven., 2010). The
number of mastitis causing pathogens also increase in the cow’s environment as temperature and
moisture increases due to overstocking as more cows produce more body heat and humid air (Joe
Hogan, K. Larry Smith., 2012). The cows may also be forced to lie in the passageway rather at night,
so her udder touches the floor (which is usually contaminated by faeces), increasing the risk of
bacterial contamination and, therefore, mastitis. It is a painful condition where the mammary gland
and udder tissue become inflamed in response to bacterial infection. This also affects the milk
produced, to the extent that farmers cannot sell as it will have a high stomatic cell count (the
measurement for level of infection in the udder) (Clive J. C. Phillips., 2018). See appendix one. There
is some debate on the affect of stocking density on mastitis. For example, P.D. Krawczel et al., 2012
found udder hygiene was unaffected by stocking densities while Joe Hogan, K. Larry Smith., 2012
found there was a significant increase in the incidence of mastitis when cubicle sheds were
overstocked. Here, Joe Hogan, K. Larry Smith., 2012 is the more reliable source as it is a paper review
therefore has gathered its data from multiple studies whose data all align, making it a more valid
source.

In conclusion, overstocking cows in a cubicle shed is a major health and welfare problem for these
animals, as the health problems it causes impedes on locomotion (such as sole ulcers and digital
dermatitis affecting ability to put weight on affected claws), normal functioning (mastitis impacts the
cow’s ability to produce milk normally), welfare (conditions such as heal horn erosion and sole
haemorrhage are extremely painful) and can sometimes lead to death (such as in severe cases of
bovine respiratory disease). Therefore, farmers must take steps to correctly stock their cattle in
order to prevent health issues, namely by having at least one cubicle per cow, which can be done by
building new facilities or reducing the size of their herd (DEFRA., 2020) There is also an economic
incentive for farmers to do so, as Albert De Vries, Haile Dechassa, Henk Hogeveen., 2015 showed a
decreased in conception rate and milk production in overstocked dairy cattle, meaning farmers will
have less income in the long run from overstocking.
 Appendixes:

Classifications of cow conditions according to the number of somatic cell count: El-far,
ali, El-tahawy, Abdelgawad., 2010. Influences of somatic cell count on milk composition
and dairy farm profitability. International Journal of Dairy Technology. 63. 463–469.
References:

ahdb., 2018. Infectious claw horn lesions in cows. [online] Available at:
<https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/infectious-claw-horn-lesions-in-cows> Accessed:
23/03/2021

ahdb., 2018. Non-infectious claw horn lesions in cows [online] available at: <
https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/non-infectious-claw-horn-lesions-in-cows> accessed:
23/3/21

Albert De Vries, Haile Dechassa, Henk Hogeveen., 2015 Crowding your cows too much costs you cash
[online] Available at: https://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/media/animalifasufledu/dairy/pdf/tools/De-Vries-
2015---crowding-your-cows-costs-you-cash---DIGAL.pdf. Accessed: 23/03/2021

Clive J. C. Phillips., 2018. Principles of cattle production 3rd edition, CABI

DEFRA., 2020. Improving cubicle comfort for cattle. [online] Available at: https://www.daera-
ni.gov.uk/news/improving-cubicle-comfort-cattle#:~:text=You%20should%20have%20at%20least,a
%20reduction%20in%20milk%20yield. Accessed: 23/03/21

F. C. Leonard*, J. M. O'colnnel, K. J, O'farrell., 1996. Effect of overcrowding on claw health in first-

calved friesian heifers. Br. vet. journal. 152, 459

G.L. Charlton, D.B. Haley, J. Rushen, A.M. de Passillé., 2014. Stocking density, milking duration, and
lying times of lactating cows on Canadian freestall dairy farms. Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 97,
Issue 5, Pages 2694-2700. ISSN 0022-0302.

J.A. Fregonesi, C.B. Tucker, D.M. Weary., 2007. Overstocking Reduces Lying Time in Dairy Cows,
Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 90, Issue 7, Pages 3349-3354, ISSN 0022-0302.

Joe Hogan, PhD, K. Larry Smith, PhD., 2012. Managing Environmental Mastitis. REVIEW ARTICLE,
Volume 28, Issue 2, Pages 217-224.

K.C. Creutzinger, H.M. Dann, L.E. Moraes, P.D. Krawczel, K.L. Proudfoot., 2021. Effects of prepartum
stocking density and a blind on physiological biomarkers, health, and hygiene of transition Holstein
dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 104, Issue 1, Pages 886-898.

M. Fustini, G. Galeati, G. Gabai, L.E. Mammi, D. Bucci, M. Baratta, P.A. Accorsi, A. Formigoni., 2017.
Overstocking dairy cows during the dry period affects dehydroepiandrosterone and cortisol
secretion, Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 100, Issue 1, Pages 620-628. ISSN 0022-0302.

Margit Bak Jensen, Kathryn L. Proudfoot., 2017. Effect of group size and health status on behavior
and feed intake of multiparous dairy cows in early lactation. J. Dairy Sci. 100:9759–9768.

Dr. Naomi Botheras., 2006. Effects of Overstocking on Cow Behavior, Welfare, and Productivity.
Buckeye dairy news, volume 8 issue 4.

P.D. Krawczel, L.B. Klaiber, R.E. Butzler, L.M. Klaiber, H.M. Dann, C.S. Mooney, R.J. Grant., 2012
Short-term increases in stocking density affect the lying and social behavior, but not the productivity,
of lactating Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 95, Issue 8, Pages 4298-4308, ISSN
0022-0302.
Peter D. Krawczel, PhD, Amanda R. Lee, MS., 2019. Lying Time and Its Importance to the Dairy Cow
Impact of Stocking Density and Time Budget Stresses. REVIEW ARTICLE, Volume 35, Issue 1. Page
147-60.

Ricardo C. Chebel, Paula R.B. Silva, Márcia I. Endres, Michael A. Ballou, Karen L. Luchterhand., 2016.
Social stressors and their effects on immunity and health of periparturient dairy cows. Journal of
Dairy Science, Volume 99, Issue 4, Pages 3217-3228, ISSN 0022-0302

Richard Laven., 2010. What is environmental mastitis? [online] Available at:

https://www.nadis.org.uk/disease-a-z/cattle/mastitis/mastitis-part-10-environmental-mastitis/
#:~:text=Environmental%20mastitis%20is%20mastitis%20caused,outside%20of%20the%20milking
%20parlour.&text=The%20two%20most%20important%20bacteria,easily%20during%20milking%2C
%20while%20E. Accessed: 23/03/2021