The effect of housing on calving behavior and calf vitality in Holstein and Jersey dairy cows

Campler, Magnus R.; Munksgaard, Lene; Jensen, Margit Bak

doi:10.3168/jds.2014-8726

Cited by 22 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Calving Difficulties. We observed no difference in the number of unassisted or assisted calvings between treatments, in contrast to Campler et al (2015), who found that the latency from visible feet to calf expulsion was shorter for cows previously housed on deep-bedded straw yards compared with freestalls during the dry period, indicative of an easier calving process when cows are housed on straw. However, the discrepancy between the 2 studies is likely due to differences in methodology and a lack of behavioral recordings of the calving process in the present study.…”

Section: Postcalvingcontrasting

confidence: 96%

The effect of transition cow housing on lying and feeding behavior in Holstein dairy cows

Campler¹,

Munksgaard

Jensen

2019

Journal of Dairy Science

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The present study investigated the effect of straw yard housing during the dry period and 2 d of additional maternity pen housing postcalving on lying and feeding behavior and calving difficulty in Holstein dairy cows. In this study, 122 multiparous cows were moved to either a straw yard or into freestall housing 4 wk before their expected calving date. Cows that had been housed in straw yards stayed in the maternity pen for an additional 2 d after their calving day, but cows that had been housed in freestalls were moved to the general lactation group the morning after calving. Lying time, lying bouts, feeding time, number of feeder visits, feed intake, feeding rate, and assisted calvings were recorded. Observations were divided into 2 periods: precalving (the 4-wk dry period before calving) and postcalving (the day of calving and the 2 d after). During the precalving period, cows housed in straw yards showed a higher number of lying bouts but no difference in lying time compared with cows housed in freestalls. Cows that were housed longer in the straw-bedded maternity pen postcalving spent more time lying during the 2 d postcalving and had a higher number of lying bouts on the day of calving than cows moved to the freestall area on the day postcalving. Additionally, cows that were housed longer in the maternity pen had a slower feeding rate and longer total feeding time during the 2 d after calving than cows with a shorter stay in the maternity pen. We found no difference in the number of assisted calvings. This study suggests that straw yard housing during the dry period may facilitate the transition between standing and lying. Furthermore, the extended stay in the maternity pen postcalving increased lying time, the number of lying bouts, and feeding time, but decreased feeding rate compared with cows that were moved to the general lactation group on the day postcalving. These results suggest potential recovery benefits with an extended stay in a maternity pen postcalving. However, further studies are needed to separate the effects of housing in the dry period and the effects of an extended housing in individual maternity pens.

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Section: Postcalvingcontrasting

confidence: 96%

The effect of transition cow housing on lying and feeding behavior in Holstein dairy cows

Campler¹,

Munksgaard

Jensen

2019

Journal of Dairy Science

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“…ing this period (Jensen, 2011). During the first hours after parturition, licking and nursing are priorities, at the expense of lying down (Jensen, 2011;Campler et al, 2015). Once parturition is finished, earlier studies suggested that lying time increases as DIM increase for cows both in tiestalls (Chaplin and Munksgaard, 2001;Vasseur et al, 2012) and in freestalls (Nielsen et al, 2000;Munksgaard et al, 2005;Bewley et al, 2010;Vasseur et al, 2012;Deming et al, 2013;Solano et al, 2016;Westin et al, 2016).…”

Section: Reproductive State and Stage Of Lactationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invited review: Lying time and the welfare of dairy cows

Tucker

Jensen

Passillé

et al. 2021

Journal of Dairy Science

148

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Adequate time lying down is often considered an important aspect of dairy cow welfare. We examine what is known about cows' motivation to lie down and the consequences for health and other indicators of biological function when this behavior is thwarted. We review the environmental and animal-based factors that affect lying time in the context of animal welfare. Our objective is to review the research into the time that dairy cows spend lying down and to critically examine the evidence for the link with animal welfare. Cows can be highly motivated to lie down. They show rebound lying behavior after periods of forced standing and will sacrifice other activities, such as feeding, to lie down for an adequate amount of time. They will work, by pushing levers or weighted gates, to lie down and show possible indicators of frustration when lying behavior is thwarted. Some evidence suggests that risk of lameness is increased in environments that provide unfavorable conditions for cows to lie down and where cows are forced to stand. Lameness itself can result in longer lying times, whereas mastitis reduces it. Cowbased factors such as reproductive status, age, and milk production influence lying time, but the welfare implications of these differences are unknown. Lower lying times are reported in pasture-based systems, dry lots, and bedded packs (9 h/d) compared with tiestalls and freestalls (10 to 12 h/d) in cross-farm research. Unfavorable conditions, including too few lying stalls for the number of cows, hard or wet lying surfaces, inadequate bedding, stalls that are too small or poorly designed, heat, and rain all reduce lying time. Time constraints, such as feeding or milking, can influence lying time. However, more information is needed about the implications of mediating factors such as the effect of the standing surface (concrete, pasture, or other surfaces) and cow behavior while standing (e.g., being restrained, walking, grazing) to understand the effect of low lying times on animal welfare. Many factors contribute to the difficulty of finding a valid threshold for daily lying time to use in the assessment of animal welfare. Although higher lying times often correspond with cow comfort, and lower lying times are seen in unfavorable conditions, exceptions occur, namely when cows lie down for longer because of disease or when they spend more time standing because of estrus or parturition, or to engage in other behaviors. In conclusion, lying behavior is important to dairy cattle, but caution and a full understanding of the context and the character of the animals in question is needed before drawing firm conclusions about animal welfare from measures of lying time.

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“…Moreover, it has been shown that the expression of licking behaviour reduces the heart rate in the receiver cow (Laister et al 2011), suggesting a role in alleviating discomfort. Several studies report that older cows licked their newborn calves sooner compared with first parity cows (Le Niendre 1989, Jensen 2012, Campler et al 2015, indicating that maternal experience is an important factor for cows' motivation to attend to their offspring and depends on parity number. Around 4 h after parturition, cows ingest the placenta and the amniotic fluids.…”

Section: Maternal Behaviour In Dairy Cowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dairy cow behaviour around calving: Its relationship with management practices and environmental conditions

Matamala

Strappini

Sepúlveda-Varas

2021

Austral j. vet. sci.

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Calving is one of the most challenging and painful experiences for dairy cattle and a process that involves coping with physical and physiological changes, as well as environmental and managementrelated stressors. In recent years, it has been argued that the application of cow behaviour knowledge might facilitate their efficacious management during calving. This review aims to summarise and discuss current knowledge regarding the behavioural changes that occur around calving time. The relationship between calving behaviour, management practices, and environmental conditions in dairy cattle raised in intensive indoor production systems, as well as pasturebased systems, is also discussed. First, we briefly outline the process of parturition and the concept of maternal behaviour. We then describe behavioural changes that occur around parturition in normal and dystocic births and how variations in these behaviours can be used to predict normal or assisted calving in dairy cattle; particular emphasis is placed on the role of feeding, rumination, and lying behaviour. Finally, we review how management practices and environmental conditions can influence cow's behaviour at calving and discuss the importance of providing an environment that accommodates the behaviour they are motivated to perform. This review presents evidence that the time a cow is moved to the calving area, the type of group housing and the provision of a secluded area to calve, can impact the behavioral responses of dairy cows at calving. Evidence regarding the effects of exposure to environmental conditions such as heat during summer, and/or cold, wet and mud during winter can also have a negative impact on behaviour, suggesting potential benefits of providing cows with a protected area to calve. We conclude that a better understanding of the behaviour of parturient cows may help producers improve the care and management around calving time.

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The effect of housing on calving behavior and calf vitality in Holstein and Jersey dairy cows

Cited by 22 publications

References 35 publications

The effect of transition cow housing on lying and feeding behavior in Holstein dairy cows

The effect of transition cow housing on lying and feeding behavior in Holstein dairy cows

Invited review: Lying time and the welfare of dairy cows

Dairy cow behaviour around calving: Its relationship with management practices and environmental conditions

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