Seasonal and group effects on dairy cow behavior in large yards

Authors : Akbar NIKKHAH, Rasool KOWSAR

Pages : 123-129

Doi:10.3906/sag-1206-62

View : 24 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In mechanized modern dairy facilities with competitive environments, monitoring behavior provides opportunities to manipulate and optimize the nutritional, health, and social status of high-merit cows. The objective of the current study was to determine seasonal and cow group effects on the eating, ruminating, standing, and lying behaviors of dairy cows in large yards. Seasonal data on various behaviors of lactating cows in different production and lactation stages were collected continuously for 26 months, from December 2006 through February 2008. The herd had approximately 3000 dairy cattle housed in groups within specific yards. A total of 415 multiparous high-producing cows insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(MH);, 166 multiparous medium-producing cows insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(MM);, 166 multiparous low-producing cows insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ML);, 165 primiparous high-producing cows insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PH);, 83 fresh cows insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FC);, 82 fresh heifers insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FH);, and 82 cows with high milk somatic cell count insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(HSCC); were monitored. Seasonal eating, ruminating, standing, and lying behaviors were recorded by 4 trained individuals at 1000 hours every week, on 4 days per week. Each activity was expressed as the proportion of cows exhibiting the activity relative to the total number of cows in the yard. Feed was delivered 6 times daily, 4 times as TMR at 0600, 1030, 1300, and 1800, just after milking and twice as alfalfa hay at nighttime. Across all groups, a greater proportion of cows were observed eating during winter insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(25.7%); than during spring insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(17.1%);, summer insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(15.4%);, and autumn insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(14.5%);. The proportion of cows neither eating nor ruminating was lower in winter insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(48.1%); than in summer insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(58.9%); and autumn insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(58.6%);, but similar to spring insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(53.7%);. A greater proportion of cows in the PH insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(24.6%); and ML insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(21.3%); groups were observed eating, compared with the MM insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(15.2%);, MH insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(16.6%);, and FC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(12.6%); groups. Lying was observed significantly more often in the FC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(71%);, MM insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(69.6%);, HSCC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(65.3%);, and MH insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(64%); groups than in FH insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(54%);, ML insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(55.7%);, and PH insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(55.7%); groups. A greater proportion of cows were observed ruminating in the MM insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(31.7%);, FC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(31.3%);, HSCC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(28.7%);, PH insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(27.2%);, and MH insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(26.7%); groups, when compared to the FH insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(20.5%); and ML insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(22.9%); groups. The HSCC cows were less active in eating and more active in lying than the PH and ML groups. With the remarkably large sample size and prolonged study period, these findings reveal the determining effects of season alongside age, lactation stage, productivity, and-to some extent-mastitis on the eating, ruminating, and resting behaviors of dairy cows in large yard houses. The data suggests future research aimed towards developing local and global programs for monitoring and optimizing cow health and welfare based on social and feeding behaviors.
Keywords : Key words Behavior, eating, ruminating, season, parity, yard