Changes in Feeding, Drinking, and Standing Behavior of Dairy Cows During the Transition Period

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine how measures of feeding, drinking, and standing behavior change over the period around calving, to derive objective meal and drinking bout criteria for transition cows, and to describe the within-cow consistency of these behavioral measures. Fifteen transition dairy cows were monitored from 10 d before until 10 d after calving. Meal criteria were calculated for each cow in both the pre- and postcalving periods and varied among cows from 5.3 to 105.2 min. There was a tendency for the average number of meals per day to be higher after calving than before calving, but time spent eating declined from 87 to 62 min/d from the precalving to the postcalving period. Time spent drinking before calving averaged 5.5 min/d and increased gradually after calving to an average of 6.8 min/d. Total daily standing times remained reasonably similar over the transition period but were highest at around calving (14.4 h) and lowest during the precalving period (12.3 h). On the day of calving, there was a dramatic increase in the number of standing bouts (21.8 bouts) compared with the pre- and postcalving averages of 11.7 and 13.1 bouts, respectively. In summary, changes in feeding behavior may help account for the well-documented changes in feed intake during transition. Documented changes in standing behavior suggest that cow comfort may be particularly important during the time around calving.

Post parturient neonatal behaviour and their relationship with maternal behaviour score, parity and sex in Surti buffaloes

“…In this period mother quickly learns to identify her own calf (Weary & Chua 2000) through the process of maternal grooming and licking (Fraser & Broom 1990) resulting a reciprocal recognition between buffalo dams and their own calves (Usmani et al 1990). The present study reported least eating period in first stage which is in consonance with results observed by Huzzey et al (2005). Immediately after calving during critical period buffalo dam showed least eating time which might be attributed to the fact that buffalo cow spent maximum time in close attachment with their neonate to detect her own calf (Weary & Chua 2000) for better survival.…”

“…Parturition is the most painful process making dam more restless just before the calving. Therefore, majority of cows remain standing before parturition which might be due to discomfort (Huzzey et al 2005). Further, cows have to make physical contact with their new born in order to identify and nurse them.…”

“…Several studies had shown that cows spent maximum time in care giving behaviours like licking (Illmann & Spinka 1993;Val-Laillet et al 2004) whereas, least priority have been given to maintenance behavioural activities viz. eating (Huzzey et al 2005) and rumination (Pahl et al 2014) during early post-partum period. To ensure strong mother-offspring bonding and good expression of maternal behaviours (licking, nursing and protection) longer periods of dam-calf contact may be recommended under extensive and organic dairy farming (Grandinson 2005).Since little is known on cow-calf relationship in buffaloes, the current study has been designed to investigate the post parturient neonatal behaviour and its relationship with maternal behaviour score, parity and sex in Surti buffaloes.…”

Métodos de diagnóstico e pontos críticos de bem-estar de bovinos leiteiros

“…Por exemplo, observouse que vacas com maior risco de desenvolver metrite pós-parto apresentaram redução mais severa da duração de comportamento ingestivo nos dias imediatamente anteriores ao parto (URTON et al, 2005). Assim, alterações na ingestão de matéria seca podem ser utilizadas para identificar vacas predispostas a metrite e outras doenças comuns ao período de transição (HUZZEY et al, 2005).…”

Drinking regime evaluation with continuous ruminal monitoring boluses

“…Drinking activity can be monitored continuously and simultaneously for randomly enrolled cows using a data acquisition system based on an individual radio frequency identification collar (Cardot et al, 2008) or with observers (Jago et al, 2005). Huzzey et al (2005) monitored drinking activity of dairy cows using video cameras connected to a video multiplexer and a time-lapse videocassette recorder. Bewley et al (2008) monitored ruminal temperature using boluses permanently residing in the cow's reticulum and indentified temperatures influenced by drinking events.…”