Graphical Abstract
Summary:
Habituation to the milking routine is a stressful process for primiparous cows, and animal reactions to new settings may represent a risk for both workers and cows. The objective of this study was to analyze the dynamics of milking unit kick-off (KO) behavior in primiparous (PRI) and multiparous (MUL) cows during the first 3 months of lactation. The odds of KO in PRI were higher than those of MUL during the entire monitoring period. The proportions of KO in PRI cows increased during the first week postpartum before decreasing after the first month of lactation, whereas KO in MUL remained stable during the whole monitoring period. Our results indicate that KO behavior in PRI cows persists over the course of the lactation, but the frequency of KO events declines after the first 30 days in milk.
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