Relating Lying Behavior With Climate, Body Condition Score, and Milk Production in Dairy Cows

Lovarelli, Daniela; Tamburini, A.; Mattachini, Gabriele; Zucali, Maddalena; Riva, Elisabetta; Provolo, G.; Guarino, Marcella

doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.565415

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Moreover, multiparous cows showed less pronounced activity responses than primiparous ones. In fact, heat load accumulation and individual cow-related factors proved to be significant factors for prediction models based on the individual susceptibility of animals to heat stress [ 14 , 15 ]. Applied statistical methods used in the literature [ 16 ] showed that milking frequency, lactation number (parity number), month of milking, and type of lying stall represent important factors responsible for the monthly milk yield of dairy cows in farms with AMSs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Random Forest Modelling of Milk Yield of Dairy Cows under Heat Stress Conditions

Bovo

Agrusti

Benni

et al. 2021

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) relies on several technological approaches to acquire, in the most efficient way, precise and real-time data concerning production and welfare of individual animals. In this regard, in the dairy sector, PLF devices are being increasingly adopted, automatic milking systems (AMSs) are becoming increasingly widespread, and monitoring systems for animals and environmental conditions are becoming common tools in herd management. As a consequence, a great amount of daily recorded data concerning individual animals are available for the farmers and they could be used effectively for the calibration of numerical models to be used for the prediction of future animal production trends. On the other hand, the machine learning approaches in PLF are nowadays considered an extremely promising solution in the research field of livestock farms and the application of these techniques in the dairy cattle farming would increase sustainability and efficiency of the sector. The study aims to define, train, and test a model developed through machine learning techniques, adopting a Random Forest algorithm, having the main goal to assess the trend in daily milk yield of a single cow in relation to environmental conditions. The model has been calibrated and tested on the data collected on 91 lactating cows of a dairy farm, located in northern Italy, and equipped with an AMS and thermo-hygrometric sensors during the years 2016–2017. In the statistical model, having seven predictor features, the daily milk yield is evaluated as a function of the position of the day in the lactation curve and the indoor barn conditions expressed in terms of daily average of the temperature-humidity index (THI) in the same day and its value in each of the five previous days. In this way, extreme hot conditions inducing heat stress effects can be considered in the yield predictions by the model. The average relative prediction error of the milk yield of each cow is about 18% of daily production, and only 2% of the total milk production.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Random Forest Modelling of Milk Yield of Dairy Cows under Heat Stress Conditions

Bovo

Agrusti

Benni

et al. 2021

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, previous findings in dogs showed a significant increase in lying behaviour when classical music was played (Bowman et al, 2017). The amount of time cows spent lying down might provide insights into their welfare and health (Lovarelli et al, 2020;Temple et al, 2016;Tucker et al, 2021). Therefore, the results suggest that the cows may already have been in good condition, or they were not bothered by the presence of music because they would still lie down or walk whether music was played or not.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

The Impact of Music on Milk Production and Behaviour of Dairy Cattle

Kamar¹,

Yusof²

2023

JTAS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The influence of music on the milk performance of dairy cattle has been increasingly studied in recent years, although its efficacy is still being debated due to the inconsistent outcomes and a limited number of studies. This study aimed to investigate the impact of music on the milk production and behaviour of 24 lactating Jersey cattle, consisting of 10 primiparous and 14 multiparous cows. The experiment involved milk collection and behavioural observation before and after exposure to music at a dairy farm in Sitiawan, Perak. The results indicate that music and parity significantly affect the milk yield produced by a cow at p < 0.05. The cows produced significantly less milk after being exposed to music, while multiparous cows recorded significantly higher milk yields than primiparous cows. In terms of the observed behaviour, the cows displayed a significantly higher proportion of feeding and ruminating when no music was played. On the other hand, multiparous cows displayed a significantly lower proportion of feeding and ruminating, and a higher proportion of standing compared to primiparous cows. However, no significant effects of parity and music were observed in walking and lying behaviour. To conclude, music did not improve the milk yield of Jersey dairy cows in this study. Due to the inconsistencies in the outcomes of many studies related to the effect of music on milk yield, more long-term research should be conducted by considering factors that might influence milk yields, such as parity, breed, housing environment, and music selection.

show abstract

“…Sand surface presents, along with grass, the best conditions, having a longer time in a lying position posture (12.4 ± 7 h/day vs. rubber 10.7 ± 5 h/day, n = 208) and less time in a standing posture (11.5 ± 6 h/day vs. rubber 13.2 ± 6 h/day, n = 208) [ 61 ], as well as equivalent lying/standing time parameters to the grass “gold standard”. A greater time of lying behavior optimizes milk production through increases in the blood diffusion at the udder (around 5 L/min) compared with a standing animal (around 3 L/min), plasma concentration of the growth hormone, rumination frequency (reducing ruminal acidosis), and avoidance of chronic stress in the animal, according to the negative changes in the response of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis [ 62 , 63 , 64 ]. The longest standing times are associated with the appearance of pedal pathologies, consequent of lameness [ 65 , 66 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Navigation capacity: We can only hypothesize that cows may have a reduced lying time, and an increased standing time, since they were not directly recorded in the investigations found [ 62 , 63 , 64 ]. However, compared to rubber, a higher alteration of rumination times and milk production have been reported, which point to a suboptimal lying/standing time (7286 ± 1778 kg/cow/year vs. 7535 ± 745 kg/cow/year, n = 645) [ 71 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why Is the Grass the Best Surface to Prevent Lameness? Integrative Analysis of Functional Ranges as a Key for Dairy Cows’ Welfare

Medina-González

Moreno

Gómez

2022

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lameness is a painful clinical condition of the bovine locomotor system that results in alterations of movement. Together with mastitis and infertility, lameness is the main welfare, health, and production problem found in intensive dairy farms worldwide. The clinical assessment of lameness results in an imprecise diagnosis and delayed intervention. Hence, the current approach to the problem is palliative rather than preventive. The five main surfaces used in free housing systems in dairy farms are two natural (grass and sand) and three artificial (rubber, asphalt, and concrete). Each surface presents a different risk potential for lameness, with grass carrying the lowest threat. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the flooring type influences on cows’ movement capabilities, using all the available information relating to kinematics, kinetics, behavior, and posture in free-housed dairy cows. Inspired by a refurbished movement ecology concept, we conducted a literature review, taking into account kinematics, kinetics, behavior, and posture parameters by reference to the main surfaces used in free housing systems for dairy cows. We built an integrative analysis of functional ranges (IAFuR), which provides a combined welfare status diagram for the optimal (i.e., within the upper and lower limit) functional ranges for movement (i.e., posture, kinematics, and kinetics), navigation (i.e., behavior), and recovery capacities (i.e., metabolic cost). Our analysis confirms grass’ outstanding clinical performance, as well as for all of the movement parameters measured. Grass boosts pedal joint homeostasis; provides reliable, safe, and costless locomotion; promotes longer resting times. Sand is the best natural alternative surface, but it presents an elevated metabolic cost. Rubber is an acceptable artificial alternative surface, but it is important to consider the mechanical and design properties. Asphalt and concrete surfaces are the most harmful because of the high traffic abrasiveness and loading impact. Furthermore, IAFuR can be used to consider other qualitative and quantitative parameters and to provide recommendations on material properties and the design of any surface, so as to move towards a more grass-like feel. We also suggest the implementation of a decision-making pathway to facilitate the interpretation of movement data in a more comprehensive way, in order to promote consistent, adaptable, timely, and adequate management decisions.

show abstract

Relating Lying Behavior With Climate, Body Condition Score, and Milk Production in Dairy Cows

Cited by 11 publications

References 45 publications

Random Forest Modelling of Milk Yield of Dairy Cows under Heat Stress Conditions

Random Forest Modelling of Milk Yield of Dairy Cows under Heat Stress Conditions

The Impact of Music on Milk Production and Behaviour of Dairy Cattle

Why Is the Grass the Best Surface to Prevent Lameness? Integrative Analysis of Functional Ranges as a Key for Dairy Cows’ Welfare

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About