Infectious Disease Does Not Impact the Lying and Grooming Behaviour of Post-Parturient Dairy Cows

Abstract

Simple SummaryAnimals reduce their activity, feeding behaviour, social interactions and self-grooming behaviours when sick (‘sickness behaviours’). However, the effect of sickness on early maternal behaviours directed toward offspring is less understood, especially in farm animals. This experiment assessed the impact of sickness on the first day after giving birth on the lying and grooming behaviour of dairy cows and their calves. The behaviours of sick and healthy cows and their calves were recorded for 24 hours after calving. Behaviours included the lying behaviour of the cow and calf, and maternal grooming of the calf. We found that health status did not affect the majority of the behaviours measured after calving. We suggest that a cow’s motivation to groom and be near their calf may be stronger than her motivation to express sickness behaviours immediately after giving birth.AbstractBehaviour is commonly used to detect sickness in animals, but the impact of sickness on lying and maternal behaviours around parturition is not well understood. The objective was to assess the effects of sickness on the lying and grooming behaviours of dairy cows in the first 24 h after giving birth. Cows were categorized as ‘sick’ (n = 8) if they had at least one rectal temperature ≥39.1 °C and one clinical sign of illness (mastitis, pneumonia or an unknown infection) within 24 h of calving. These cows were match-paired for parity with cows that had no rectal temperature ≥39.1 °C and no clinical signs of illness up to 3 d after calving (n = 8; ‘not sick’). The duration and latency of cow behaviours (standing, lying, lying bouts, lying close to calf, and grooming of the calf) and calf behaviours (standing and lying) were recorded for 24 h post-partum. We found no differences in the behaviour of sick and not sick cows and their calves post-calving, except that sick cows took longer to lie down near their calf after calving compared to those without illness. Cows may be more motivated to groom and spend time with their calf than to express sickness behaviours immediately after giving birth.

Administration of ketoprofen affects post‐partum lying behaviours of Holstein dairy cows regardless of whether parturition is assisted

“…However, Barrier et al 8 only analysed behaviour in the first 3 h post‐partum, whereas we analysed behaviour for 48 h post‐partum and identified that in the first 12 h post‐partum cows spend the least amount of their time budget engaged in lying behaviours. Previous studies have also found that cows engage in lying behaviours less during the first 24 h post‐partum than later on, 34,35 and one study found that cows spent the least amount of time lying in the first 6 h post‐partum 36 . It is therefore possible that the immediate post‐partum behavioural analysis performed by Barrier et al 8 missed differences in lying behaviours identified using a longer observation period.…”

“…Previous studies have also found that cows engage in lying behaviours less during the first 24 h post-partum than later on, 34,35 and one study found that cows spent the least amount of time lying in the first 6 h post-partum. 36 It is therefore possible that the immediate post-partum behavioural analysis performed by Barrier et al 8 missed differences in lying behaviours identified using a longer observation period. It is also possible that the degree of pain experienced several hours after post-partum may be greater than pain experienced in the immediate post-partum period.…”

Do calves hide after birth? Postpartum behavior of dairy calves and their dams housed in individual calving pens

“…2010/561–1780). Previous publications based on the same experiment reported the effects of time of movement to individual calving pens ( Proudfoot et al, 2013 ), the effect of pen type on prepartum behavior ( Proudfoot et al, 2014 ), and the effect of disease on maternal behavior ( Perier et al, 2019 ).…”