Factors associated with the welfare and economic value of cull dairy cows sold at auction rings in Panama.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate factors associated with the welfare (lameness, body condition, and human-animal interaction) and economic value (sale price) of cull dairy cows sold at auctions in Panama. In an observational study, 5,734 cull cows were evaluated using publicly available YouTube videos from individual sales at the country's main auction facilities. The incidence of cows with low BCS and lameness was determined by visual scoring. Negative human-animal interactions were quantified based on the frequency of aggressive behaviors received by cows in the sales ring. The sale price was recorded in US dollars per kilogram of live weight (USD/kg). A total of 20.9% of the cows presented low BCS, 2.06% exhibited lameness, and 92.61% received aggressive interactions during the marketing process. The frequency of aggressive interactions was associated with genetic group, BCS, presence of lameness and horns, animal behavior, and auction location. Cows with lameness had a sale price 0.02 USD/kg lower compared with cows without lameness. Likewise, animals with a BCS ≤2 had a price 0.14 USD/kg lower than that of cows with a score >2. Additionally, cows classified as calm had a 0.04 USD/kg lower price than alert cows. Cull dairy cows sold at Panama auction have conditions that compromise their welfare, as demonstrated by the incidence of low BCS and high frequency of negative interactions during handling. Factors such as genetic group, body condition, cows' behavior, presence of lameness and horns, and auction location influenced the occurrence of negative interactions. Furthermore, thin cows, those with lameness, and those with calm behavior were economically evaluated less favorably, indicating an association between compromised welfare and the reduced market value of these animals.