Feed Management: Impacts on Dairy Cow Welfare, Metabolic Health and Milk Quality: A Review

In dairy production, rigorous herd management is essential to ensure the well-being of cows, their metabolic health and ultimately, the quality of the milk produced. This study compares two types of dairy farms: Modern farms (Category 1) and resource-limited farms (Category 2). The objective is to assess the impact of feeding practices on the health and welfare of dairy cows by measuring metabolic parameters via blood sampling and behavioral observation. At the same time, milk quality is analyzed, both in terms of hygiene and physicochemical properties, using techniques such as lactofermentation tests and infrared spectroscopy. Finally, the study examines livestock infrastructure and its correlation with zootechnical performance, based on criteria defined by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). A statistically significant comparative study (P<0.05) highlights that optimized feeding practices on modernized category 1 farms lead to high cow welfare (65/100) and increased milk production (25.75 kg/day). In contrast, category 2 farms with stressful practices exhibit poor well-being (21/100), metabolic issues like low sugar (1.09 g/L) and triglyceride (0.86 g/L) levels, decreased production (19.67 kg/day) and reduced milk protein content (< 3%). The study confirms that the rearing environment, high-quality feeding practices and animal welfare are intrinsically linked to cow health, quality milk production and farm sustainability. Investment in these areas, particularly herd hygiene and welfare, directly translates into robust health, improved animal welfare and increased milk production, thereby justifying the implementation of necessary adjustments for farms.