This week I found myself staring at an empty field. I was somewhat surprised by this as – as far as I could tell as a human – it was a beautiful day to be outside: sunny, a pleasant 19°C and the perfect weather to be tucking into some lush pasture. However, the 60 cows that I'd come to condition score had voted with their feet and were, without exception, inside, lying in a fan-cooled shed.
This was a reminder to me that as much as we like to think that we know what cows want – or don't want – they are still the best judges of their own desires and motivations. The issue of whether cows should have access to grazing is an emotive subject, in which we see various groups making a case for and against. I regularly have my clients with permanently housed cows tell me their cows have no desire to go outside, and equally my extensive grazing clients suggesting cows like being outside throughout the year.
I suspect the reality is nuanced; where cows want to be will depend on the relative merits of both options and what appeals more on that day. A dingy, hot, unventilated shed will likely be rejected in favour of a warm spring day in a tree-lined pasture, or a cool barn with comfortable cubicles and tasty food nearby will be preferred over a shadeless, fourth-rotation field.
Animal Welfare Science, the recent book by Marian Dawkins (2021), sets out an accessible definition of animal welfare as ‘good health, and what animals want’. Preference testing, and/or motivation-based trials, can help us understand relative rankings of what animals prefer. We can sometimes borrow from these techniques and apply them to the commercial setting, allowing cattle to make decisions about some aspects of their lives.
Voluntary access to grazing and housing is one example that is in reach of many dairy producers. While not all producers will be able to provide free access between sheds and grazing, and virtually none can manage this year-round, it does not mean that where possible it should not be applied.
There is arguably a lack of acknowledgement that modern grazing practices aimed to improve grass utilisation efficiency can lead to possible welfare issues, particularly regarding access to shade and thermal discomfort. Researchers (Chamberlain et al, 2022) have been examining shortcomings in the suitability of the Temperature and Humidity Index (THI) for outdoor cattle and how other measurements for solar radiation and wind speed also need to be considered, as well as the difficulties in providing sufficient shade for a typical herd of cows at grass. These issues will likely come into sharper focus as we see the effects of climate change on our own weather. It may be that techniques such as silvopasture hold some of the solution to these challenges in the future, but the concept in the context of modern farming is still in its infancy.
Providing animals with choice is difficult for many farms given constraints on infrastructure, access to a suitable grazing platform, additional labour costs etc. However, for those ‘top tier’ farm assurance welfare schemes, where sensible remuneration is offered, it would be nice to see elements of animal choice being introduced. In the case of outdoor access, creating a scheme where animals are locked outside in the baking heat of summer in order to tick a box does not seem in anyone's interests, least of all the cows. It is reassuring to see that choice in this regard is now being reflected in some progressive retailer and processor policies.