The Five Freedoms and Caregivers in Beef Cattle Husbandry By: of of Wisconsin - Madison, By:Dr. Dr.Dorte DorteDopfer, Dopfer,University University Wisconsin - Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine
School of Veterinary Medicine Since 1965 a concept for defining wellbeing in animals Since a concept for Five defining wellbeing in animals that are1965 in human care, the Freedoms provide the that are in human care, the Five Freedoms provide the basis for training caregivers to improve and maintain well basis for training caregivers to improve and maintain well being in domesticated cattle. being in domesticated cattle. Caregivers in turn need the training, support, and harmony Caregivers in turn need the training, support, and from all levels of their professional environment to acquire harmony from all levels of their professional environment the andknowledge skills necessary recognize the needs to knowledge acquire the and toskills necessary to of cattle. According to the Farm Animal Welfare recognize the needs of cattle. According to the Farm Committee (www.gov.uk/government/groups/farm-animal Animal Welfare Committee (www.gov.uk/government/ -welfare-committee-fawc), the Five Freedoms provide a groups/farm-animal - welfare-committee-fawc), the Five framework for the needs and well being of cattle in five Freedoms provide a framework for the needs and well parts: being of cattle in five parts: 1. Freedom 1. Freedomfrom fromhunger hungeror orthirst thirstbybyready readyaccess accesstoto fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigor vigor fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and 2. Freedom discomfort by providing an 2. Freedomfrom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and aand a appropriate environment including shelter comfortable comfortableresting restingarea area 3. Freedom from disease by by prevention prevention 3. Freedom from pain, pain, injury injury or or disease or rapid diagnosis and treatment or rapid diagnosis and treatment 4. Freedom normal behavior by by 4. Freedomtotoexpress express(most) (most) normal behavior providing proper facilities and and providingsufficient sufficientspace, space, proper facilities company companyof ofthe theanimal's animal’sown ownkind kind 5. Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring 5. Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mentalsuffering suffering conditions and treatment which avoid mental The asked by skilled caregivers with with Thequestions questionstotobe be asked by skilled caregivers respect respectto tothe theFive FiveFreedoms Freedomsare: are: What of of cattle at feed yards in in Whatisisfeasible feasibleupon uponarrival arrival cattle at feed yards terms of water and feed intake to abate hunger and thirst? terms of water and hunger and thirst? Caregivers’ for for receiving cattlecattle Caregivers’foresight foresightininpreparing preparing receiving needs needsto tobe betimely timelyand andresult resultininaapositive positiveexperience experiencefor for the thenew newarrivals. arrivals. Howcan canaascenario scenariobe beprovided providedtotoachieve achievebest bestpossible possible How rest and andeven evendeep deepsleep sleepinincattle cattle shortly after arrival? rest shortly after arrival? Respectful connection to and guidance of cattle Respectful connection to and guidance of cattle uponupon arrivalwill willresult resultininrelease releaseofof tension stress while arrival tension andand stress while cattlerelax relaxinto intotheir theirneed needfor forrest. rest.An Anenvironment environmentable ableto cattle accommodate resting cattle is necessary to follow up on 24 guidance and established contact. the
to accommodate resting cattle is necessary to follow up How canguidance caregivers disease and injury as soon on the andrecognize established contact. as possible? By creating unthreatening connections animals, How can caregivers recognize diseasewith and the injury as soon caregivers need to convince cattle to share their very early as possible? signs of disease and injury. This sharing of signs By creating unthreatening connections with theofanimals, discomfort will facilitate early diagnosis that must be very caregivers need to convince cattle to share their followed by prompt, adequate care before increased early signs of disease and injury. This sharing of signs severity and chronicity lead to complications. Recognizing of discomfort will facilitate early diagnosis that must and and confusion in cattle around be removing followed anxiety by prompt, adequate care before increased arrival time is the foundation for acclimation. severity and chronicity lead to complications. Making Recognizing connections startsanxiety with observation, sharing eye contact and removing and confusion in of cattle around and making quiet mind contact. Cattle’s minds soonMaking give arrival time is the foundation for acclimation. into the care ofstarts skilled connections withherdsmen. observation, sharing of eye contact and making quiet mind contact. Cattle’s minds soon give How recognize that cattle have melted into the intodo thewe care of skilled herdsmen. correct social fabric of the herd by exhibiting adequate behavior? How do we recognize that cattle have melted into the Orderly and timely, hierarchy correctmotions social fabric of thepainless herd byherd exhibiting adequate establishment behavior? allow for regular feeding, drinking, rumination, expressions exuberance and herd playfulness, Orderly motions and oftimely, painless hierarchy particularly in theallow sociallyforweaker animals. If signs of establishment regular feeding, drinking, rumination, expressions of for exuberance playfulness, stress and fatigue do not last long afterand arrival then the particularly in theofsocially weaker animals. If signs of behavioral patterns cattle are accommodated well stressthe andacclimation fatigue do process. not last Therefore, for long after arrival then during prompt the behavioral of cattleofare accommodated acclimation resultspatterns in the expression adequate cattle’s well behavior during the social andacclimation vice versa. process. Therefore, prompt acclimation results in the expression of adequate cattle’s social and vice versa.anxiety and fear in cattle? How canbehavior the caregiver remove Careful, but unambiguous guidance of cattle during How can caregiverresults removeinanxiety and fear in cattle? herding andthe processing trust and calm Careful, but unambiguous guidance of cattle phases. during reassurance during transitions between production herding and processing results in trust and reassurance Caregivers become the cattle’s beacon in acalm confusing new duringThe transitions between production phases. Caregivers world. connected caregiver on the other hand become to thescan cattle’s beacon in aforconfusing newthat world. continues groups of cattle the members The connected caregiver on the other hand continues influence group behavior and turns such helper cattle into scan cattlebehavior. for the members that influence a to mesh of groups positiveofgroup Positive group group behavior and turns such helper cattle into a mesh behavior is a resource that needs care and maintenance. of positive group behavior. Positive group behavior is a that needs care and maintenance. Inresource conclusion: Successful acclimation under the supervision of skilled In conclusion: caregivers opens the door towards sustaining the Five Successful**acclimation under the supervision of skilled Freedoms. caregivers opens the door towards sustaining the Five Freedoms. ** 24
