4/28/2014
BEHAVIORS IMPORTANT TO COWS
© KBS, Michigan State University
©C Trafford Gold ©J.B. Fisher
DAIRY COW BEHAVIOR: IMPLICATIONS OF COW CHOICE
© The Post Standard
Janice M. Siegford Animal Behavior and Welfare Group Department of Animal Science Michigan State University
© Carrie Telgen
© The Bullvine LLC
ONE MORE BEHAVIOR….
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BEHAVIOR
BEHAVIOR,WELFARE & CHOICE
DESIGN IMPACTS COW CHOICE
“Do they have what they want?” (Dawkins, 2004)
Do they have enough freedom to make choices or
effect change? Can they get what they want? What happens when they exert that control? Can they do what they
want?
Cow being trained to use sprinkler
Do the impacts of design and animal choices result
in good welfare?
©UC, Davis
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FREE STALL SYSTEMS
BEDDED PACK SYSTEMS
©University of Wisconsin ©UMN Extension
PASTURE-BASED SYSTEMS
©UMN Extension
AUTOMATIC MILKING SYSTEMS (AMS)
©Lely
©DeLaval
©Lely
AUTOMATIC MILKING SYSTEMS (AMS)
©Lely
©Lely
DAY OF A TYPICAL DAIRY COW Behavior
Avg Confined Cow
Avg Pastured Cow
Avg AMS Cow**
Lying
2.8 – 17.6 h/day
12.0 – 14.0 h/day
9.5 – 12.4 h/day 14. 1 h/day
Feeding
1.4 – 8.1 h/day
8.0 – 12.0 h/day
1.2 – 4.5 h/day
5.5 h/day
Drinking
0 – 2.0 h/day
0.5 – 1.0 h/day
n/a
0.3 h/day
Standing Idle 0.5 – 22.4 h/day
0 – 2.5 h/day
6.6 – 8.0 h/day
1.6 h/day
Milking*
1 – 3.0 h/day
0.4 – 0.6 h/day
2.5 h/day
0.9 – 5.7 h/day
Top Producers
*Includes travel time to and from parlor and time spent in holding. **In free stall systems.
Rumination: 6 – 7 h/day Social interaction: 0.5 – 3 h/day ©Aarhus University
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FEEDING IN FREE STALLS/BEDDED PACK
FEEDING BEHAVIOR
©Nigel Cook
DeVries et al., 2003 JDS 86:4079-4082
©Getty Images
FEEDING BEHAVIOR
FEEDING ON PASTURE
©Prime Stables, LTD
©The Cultured Home
©Walter Baxter
DeVries et al., 2005 JDS 88:625-631
FEEDING BEHAVIOR
BODY CONDITION & GRAZING
NZ Friesian
US high-durability Holstein
US High-producing Holstein
Tucker 2009*
McCarthy et al., 2007 JDS 90:1859-1869
*Adapted from Tucker et al., 2008 AABS 109:141-154 & DeVries & von Keyserlingk, 2005 JDS 88:625-631
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FEEDING CONCERNS: FREE STALLS
FEEDING CONCERNS: PASTURE
Cows in free stalls can choose to feed any time, but they don’t
Cows will choose to avoid contaminated grass and to graze
Reduced feeding time = negative energy balance risk for metabolic disorders, BCS, and production Possible solutions to accommodate feeding behavior: Provide adequate space per cow at feed bunk Change timing of feed delivery Increase frequency of feed delivery Consider type of feed rail
LYING IN FREE STALLS
good grass, but they may not be able to graze enough to meet their needs Reduced energy intake = negative energy balance
Possible solutions to accommodate grazing constraints: Pasture quality Stocking rate Rotate pastures Supplementation Select appropriate cows
LYING BEHAVIOR IN FREE STALLS
©Nigel Cook
©University of Wisconsin
Overton et al., 2002 JDS 85:2407-2413
LYING BEHAVIOR IN FREE STALLS
LYING BEHAVIOR IN BEDDED PACK
Fregonesi et al., 2007 JDS 90:3349-3354
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LYING ON PASTURE
©Phil Carlton
LYING BEHAVIOR ON PASTURE
Photo credit: Morguefile.com
Tucker, 2009*
*Adapted from Tucker et al., 2008 AABS 109:141-154 & DeVries & von Keyserlingk, 2005 JDS 88:625-631
LYING BEHAVIOR ON PASTURE
LYING CONCERNS: FREE STALLS
Heat stress can reduce lying time of pastured cows
Cows in free stalls can lie down at any time, but they don’t
Standing is thought to maximize exposed surface area If shade is provided, cows may stand rather than lie
Reduced lying time = problems with lameness, BCS,
reproductive performance, decreased production, increased stress hormones & reduced growth hormone
under the shade Cows may also spend more time grazing at night
Possible solutions to accommodate cow lying behavior: Reduce stall stocking rate Use preferred stall bedding and depth Ensure adequate stall dimensions & designs
LYING CONCERNS: PASTURE
MILKING IN AN AMS
Cows on pasture may not lie down enough if they are heat
stressed
Reduced lying time = problems with lameness, BCS,
reproductive performance, decreased production, increased stress hormones & reduced growth hormone
Possible solutions to accommodate lying constraints: Access to shade or cool barn Pasture substrate Windbreaks ©KBS, MSU
©Jackie Jacobs, ABWG
www.ruralni.gov.uk
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MILKING BEHAVIOR IN AMS
MILKING BEHAVIOR IN AMS
Duration of Event (in Seconds)
Mean Circadian Rhythm of Events 3400 3200 3000 2800 2600 2400 2200 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0
RE RC SM UM BU
0
Hogeveen et al., 2001 Livest Prod Sci 72:157-167
AMS MILKING BEHAVIOR: CONCERNS
1
Jacobs, 2011
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 Hour of the Day
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
KBS DAIRY: PASTURE + AMS
Variable milking intervals could increase SCC and put
cows at risk for mastitis or damaged teat ends
Cows may circle, hesitate or block at the robot = more
time on their feet less time feeding
Possible solutions to address AMS behaviors: Optimize gate/alley/holding area configuration Place other desired resources away from AMS Use an external concentrate feeder to supplement cows
KBS DAIRY: PASTURE + AMS
BEHAVIOR STUDIES AT KBS Behavior of dairy cows in automatic milking
systems with pasture
(Jacobs & Siegford, 2012a & b; Jacobs et al., 2012; Siegford et al., 2012a & b; Elischer et al., 2013)
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BEHAVIOR STUDIES AT KBS
DAIRY COWS ADAPT QUICKLY TO AMS
How well do cows adapt to AMS?
Milk Yield ± 4 Days Relative to Transition
How does cow behavior impact efficient use of AMS? Does pasture + AMS impact behavior, health &
productivity How does stocking rate impact cow behavior?
Day: p < 0.001
(Jacobs & Siegford, 2012)
BEHAVIOR IN AMS: CIRCLING
DAIRY COWS ADAPT QUICKLY TO AMS Steps and Kicks before Teat Cup Attachment
Parity: p < 0.05 Day: p = 0.09
Elimination & Vocalization
Day: p < 0.001
(Jacobs & Siegford, 2012)
BEHAVIOR IN AMS: BLOCKING
COW BEHAVIOR = EFFICIENT USE? Successful Milking vs. Back Up y = -1.768 + 0.59x r2 = -0.26 (p