By Kennedy, Emer and Lewis, Eva and O’Driscoll, Keelin, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2015
Research Paper Web Link / URL:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159115000568
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159115000568
Description
In temperate climates where cows are primarily managed at pasture shortages of grass could result in nutritional deficits for the cow and thus pose a challenge to her welfare. This study investigated the effect of daily herbage allowance (DHA) on dairy cow lying behaviour, locomotory ability, and some aspects of hoof health. Ninety-six cows were randomly assigned to one of eight treatments in a 2 × 4 factorial design; experimental duration (2 week (2 W) or 6 week (6 W)), and nutritional levels (DHA) (60%, 80%, 100% or 120% of intake capacity). Cows were assigned to treatment on 25 March (36 ± 16 days in milk). Lying behaviour was recorded using modified voltage dataloggers over 7 × 24 h periods at approximately 4 d intervals for cows on the 6 W treatments. Locomotory ability (including overall locomotion, ab/adduction, tracking, speed, head carriage and spine curvature scores) was assessed four times at approximately 16 d intervals. Hoof health (heel erosion and dermatitis scores) were recorded in the milking parlour on four occasions at approximately 19 d intervals. Although there was no effect on daily lying time, DHA tended to affect the duration of lying bouts (P = 0.1). Cows allocated the highest DHA (120%) had shorter bouts than all other treatments (P = 0.05), whereas cows allocated the lowest DHA (60%) had fewer lying bouts than all other treatments (P < 0.05). In general, cows allocated a lower DHA took longer to lie down after milking than cows fed at or above intake capacity. The effect was greatest in the afternoon when there was an effect of DHA (P < 0.05); cows on the 60% DHA stood for longer after afternoon milking than all other treatments (P < 0.01). There was no effect of DHA on locomotory ability for either 2 W or 6 W cows. However, in the 2 W treatment, cows on the 120% DHA had the best spine arch scores (P = 0.01), and cows in the 60% treatment had the worst tracking (P < 0.05). Likewise in the 6 W treatment cows on the 60% DHA had the worst spine arch scores (P < 0.05), yet cows allocated a higher DHA tended to have worse ab/adduction scores (P = 0.10). There was no effect of DHA on hoof health. The differences in lying behaviour and locomotion do not imply impaired welfare per se. However, altered lying behaviour could indicate hunger, and impaired locomotion could be a result of a thin digital cushion, which is associated with lameness. This study provides valuable information about how DHA can affect the dairy cow, and can be used to formulate further hypotheses to investigate effects on hunger-satiety status and hoof health.
In temperate climates where cows are primarily managed at pasture shortages of grass could result in nutritional deficits for the cow and thus pose a challenge to her welfare. This study investigated the effect of daily herbage allowance (DHA) on dairy cow lying behaviour, locomotory ability, and some aspects of hoof health. Ninety-six cows were randomly assigned to one of eight treatments in a 2 × 4 factorial design; experimental duration (2 week (2 W) or 6 week (6 W)), and nutritional levels (DHA) (60%, 80%, 100% or 120% of intake capacity). Cows were assigned to treatment on 25 March (36 ± 16 days in milk). Lying behaviour was recorded using modified voltage dataloggers over 7 × 24 h periods at approximately 4 d intervals for cows on the 6 W treatments. Locomotory ability (including overall locomotion, ab/adduction, tracking, speed, head carriage and spine curvature scores) was assessed four times at approximately 16 d intervals. Hoof health (heel erosion and dermatitis scores) were recorded in the milking parlour on four occasions at approximately 19 d intervals. Although there was no effect on daily lying time, DHA tended to affect the duration of lying bouts (P = 0.1). Cows allocated the highest DHA (120%) had shorter bouts than all other treatments (P = 0.05), whereas cows allocated the lowest DHA (60%) had fewer lying bouts than all other treatments (P < 0.05). In general, cows allocated a lower DHA took longer to lie down after milking than cows fed at or above intake capacity. The effect was greatest in the afternoon when there was an effect of DHA (P < 0.05); cows on the 60% DHA stood for longer after afternoon milking than all other treatments (P < 0.01). There was no effect of DHA on locomotory ability for either 2 W or 6 W cows. However, in the 2 W treatment, cows on the 120% DHA had the best spine arch scores (P = 0.01), and cows in the 60% treatment had the worst tracking (P < 0.05). Likewise in the 6 W treatment cows on the 60% DHA had the worst spine arch scores (P < 0.05), yet cows allocated a higher DHA tended to have worse ab/adduction scores (P = 0.10). There was no effect of DHA on hoof health. The differences in lying behaviour and locomotion do not imply impaired welfare per se. However, altered lying behaviour could indicate hunger, and impaired locomotion could be a result of a thin digital cushion, which is associated with lameness. This study provides valuable information about how DHA can affect the dairy cow, and can be used to formulate further hypotheses to investigate effects on hunger-satiety status and hoof health.
We welcome and encourage discussion of our linked research papers. Registered users can post their comments here. New users' comments are moderated, so please allow a while for them to be published.