Handling of Cull Dairy Cows in Alberta

Reports

The partners of ALPS (AFAC, including the Alberta Milk, the Alberta SPCA and Alberta Agriculture and Food) identified the need to improve the humane handling of cull dairy cows. We are particularly concerned about those cows sold at auction markets or under the stress of prolonged handling and transportation before arrival at a kill plant.

This report, completed May 2002, is intended to present an assessment and better understanding of the handling of cull dairy cows in Alberta for the purposes of developing key strategic ways to improve.

Briefly, the report includes:

Statistics
Description of common best practices for cull cow management
Identification of marketing channel changes
Discussion of the economics
Recognition of practices used in other jurisdictions
Recommendations for improvements.

Contact AFAC to request a copy of this report.

As a result of this report, Alberta Milk and AAF did a pilot project - 'Determining the Value of a Centralized Processing System for Cull Cows" - click here to view/download an article on final report.Also, Alberta Milk and AFAC developed guidelines for handling unfit diary cows. See AFAC's Humane Livestock Transportation for more information.