Precalving behavior in dairy cattle with different calving times

Abstract

Predicting the calving time in dairy cattle can help in avoiding calving accidents and reducing burdens on animal caretakers. In this study, we analyzed the behavior of pregnant dairy cattle for 7 days prior to calving, to assess the feasibility of predicting the calving time. Eleven Holstein cows were divided into two groups based on their calving times, that is, in the morning (the Morning Parturition Group) or the evening (the Evening Parturition Group). Their behavior was recorded on video. An analysis was conducted of the daily occurrences of each type of behavior and the number of switches of behavior during the day and at night. A statistical analysis was conducted, using a two‐way factorial analysis. The behavioral sequence was analyzed using an adjacency matrix. Hierarchical structure charts were created, using Interpretive Structural Modeling. The results suggest that feeding and exploratory behaviors are associated with the calving time period and thus can be useful when predicting that period. The hierarchical structure charts suggest that the Morning Parturition Group had no definite behavioral sequence pattern, unlike the Evening Parturition Group. The detection of an unstable behavioral sequence pattern might predict the calving time period.

A Markov Chain Model for Determining the Optimal Time to Move Pregnant Cows to Individual Calving Pens

“…The housing and management of the calving section, such as low space allowances in group calving pens, may compromise the isolation-seeking behavior of cows before calving [17]. It is worth mentioning some results and findings of [17] that animals increased their locomotor behavior from 24 to 2 h before calving and decreased their locomotor behavior from 2 to 0 h before calving.…”

“…The housing and management of the calving section, such as low space allowances in group calving pens, may compromise the isolation-seeking behavior of cows before calving [17]. It is worth mentioning some results and findings of [17] that animals increased their locomotor behavior from 24 to 2 h before calving and decreased their locomotor behavior from 2 to 0 h before calving. The increasement in locomotor behavior before calving has been driven by the motivation of finding a desirable calving site or separating from other cows due to discomfort associated with giving birth.…”

“…The decision of when to move cows to an individual maternity pen is often made based on predicting the time until the calving event [4]. Experts suggest that the best time to move a cow to the pen is 12 to 24 h before the predicted time or the expected due date [17]. For predicting the optimal time for moving pregnant cows to calving pens, a simple Markov Chain Model based on a random walk is proposed in this paper.…”