The Effects of Seasons on The Area Usage of Animals and Time Budget in Loose and Free Stall Dairy Cattle Barns

Authors : Selda UZAL, Nuh UĞURLU

Pages : 27-37

View : 31 | Download : 29

Publication Date : 2009-04-25

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Realizing design of appropriate structure for cow comfort is important to increase animal production. This study has been carried out to determine annual time budget and shelter area choice of cows between 2006 and 2008 in Konya. Behavior of animals has been investigated in two dairy cattle companies which have loose and free stall livestock buildings. It has taken 80 days insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1920 h); totally, 40 days per company. Fourty days have been decided to represent 4 seasons insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(10 C days per season);. Behavior of cows has been observed by recording during 24 hours of a day with video cameras mounted at suitable places in investigated parts. Seasonal time budget and shelter field choice of cows has been determined for each shelter company. Time budget of cows in loose barn has been determined as 42.4 % laying, 11.1 % standing, 32.3 % feeding, 1.6 % drinking, 6.3 % locomotion, 1.7 % other behaviors and 4.6 % milking. In free stall barn; 45.4 % laying, 13.7 % stand-ing, 25.4 % feeding, 1.7 % drinking, 9.9 % locomotion, 1.3 % other behaviors, and 2.6 % milking. Furthermore, annu-al average field usage of dairy cattle has been determined as 5.84 h resting area, 8.92 h courtyard, 7.74 h feedlot, 1.5 h water cup and milking area in loose shelter. In free stall barn, field usage has been determined as 3.33 h cubicle, 12.22 h courtyard, 1.30 h service road, 6.09 h feedlot, 1.06 h water cup and milking area. In conclusion, it has been ob-served that cows used closed fields and cubicle of shelter less than open field of shelter.
Keywords : Sığır davranışları, süt sığırı barınakları, zaman bütçesi, sığırların alan tercihleri