By DePeters, E. J. and Juarez, S. T. and Price, E. O. and Robinson, P. H., Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2003
Description
The impact of lameness on behavior and milk production of multiparity Holstein cows was examined on two commercial dairy farms. Pens of cows were selected based on distance from the milking parlor. Cows within each pen were locomotion scored to quantify lameness severity. Based on their locomotion score (i.e. 1-4), where an increasing number indicates an increased severity of lameness, cows were color marked and observed to quantify behaviors. Data recorded by cow was the return time from the milking parlor (i.e. time after the first cow returned; in minutes) after the morning milking and then, at hourly intervals until cows left for the afternoon milking, whether marked cows were lying or standing and their distance from the pen entrance. Milk production and composition was determined. In Experiment 1, the percentage of cows lying increased at an increasing rate (linear (L): P = 0.02; quadratic (Q): P = 0.07), distance from the pen entrance was highest in intermediate locomotion score groups (Q: P = 0.02), return time tended to increase linearly (P = 0.07), and milk (P = 0.02) and protein production (P < 0.01) decreased linearly as the locomotion score groups increased. In Experiment 2, the percentage of cows lying increased linearly (P < 0.01), distance from the pen entrance decreased at an increasing rate (L: P < 0.01; Q: P < 0.01), and return time increased at an increasing rate (L: P = 0.07; Q: P = 0.05) as locomotion score groups increased. Percentage of cows lying was highest in the farthest pen (P < 0.01), distance from the pen entrance decreased at an increasing rate (L: P < 0.01 and Q: P < 0.01), and cows return time increased linearly (P < 0.01) as pen distance from the milking parlor increased. Increased locomotion score and pen distance were judged to have negatively impacted cow behavior and productivity. However, lack of interactions between locomotion score and pen distance do not support a recommendation to place lame cows in pens closer to the milking parlor to increase welfare and/or productivity. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The impact of lameness on behavior and milk production of multiparity Holstein cows was examined on two commercial dairy farms. Pens of cows were selected based on distance from the milking parlor. Cows within each pen were locomotion scored to quantify lameness severity. Based on their locomotion score (i.e. 1-4), where an increasing number indicates an increased severity of lameness, cows were color marked and observed to quantify behaviors. Data recorded by cow was the return time from the milking parlor (i.e. time after the first cow returned; in minutes) after the morning milking and then, at hourly intervals until cows left for the afternoon milking, whether marked cows were lying or standing and their distance from the pen entrance. Milk production and composition was determined. In Experiment 1, the percentage of cows lying increased at an increasing rate (linear (L): P = 0.02; quadratic (Q): P = 0.07), distance from the pen entrance was highest in intermediate locomotion score groups (Q: P = 0.02), return time tended to increase linearly (P = 0.07), and milk (P = 0.02) and protein production (P < 0.01) decreased linearly as the locomotion score groups increased. In Experiment 2, the percentage of cows lying increased linearly (P < 0.01), distance from the pen entrance decreased at an increasing rate (L: P < 0.01; Q: P < 0.01), and return time increased at an increasing rate (L: P = 0.07; Q: P = 0.05) as locomotion score groups increased. Percentage of cows lying was highest in the farthest pen (P < 0.01), distance from the pen entrance decreased at an increasing rate (L: P < 0.01 and Q: P < 0.01), and cows return time increased linearly (P < 0.01) as pen distance from the milking parlor increased. Increased locomotion score and pen distance were judged to have negatively impacted cow behavior and productivity. However, lack of interactions between locomotion score and pen distance do not support a recommendation to place lame cows in pens closer to the milking parlor to increase welfare and/or productivity. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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