Health of the Locomotor System Indicator of Welfare of Algerian Dairy Cows

Animal Welfare has a significant impact on the dairy cow’s health, behaviour, productivity and milk quality. By implementing husbandry practices that respect the physical, behavioural and emotional needs of dairy cows, the dairy industry can improve the sustainability of its operations and meet rising expectations. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of housing systems (free vs. tied) on dairy cow health through musculoskeletal health indicators and lameness scores. The hypothesis that dairy cows reared in free housing have a better quality of health than cows reared in restrained housing is tested. Thus, 300 dairy cows of the Holstein and Montbeliarde breeds were selected from dairy farms in five municipalities of Constantine province (eastern Algeria). The results showed that the frequency of severe lameness did not exceed 12% in stalls with restraints and more than 42% of light lameness are in free-stall housing (p < 0.001). These results reflect a lack of comfort in restricted housing, with an impact on dairy performances. Moreover, the monitoring of lame cows and the functional trimming of their hooves should be frequent. It is also important to implement a cull policy for unproductive cows. Finally, it is very important to provide adequate training to farmers in order to improve the well-being of dairy cows.