Behaviour Management.

Question 1

Cattle behaviour: Dairy cows?

Answer 1

-Because they are naturally gregarious, living in herds, and are prey animals.
-Stress indicators rise if they are isolated:
1.) Increases heart rate.
2.) Increased vocalisation.
3.) Increased defecation.
4.) Increased cortisol.

Question 2

Dairy Cow social behaviour?

Answer 2

-Form dominant-subordinate relationships that regulate access to limited/preferred resources without escalating aggression.
-Aggressive interactions are common when unfamiliar cows are mixed in and new dominance relationships are established (e.g., for access to feeder spaces, cubicles, etc.).

Question 3

Behaviour management in a loose housing system means managing competition and flow?

Answer 3

Competition for:
1.) Cubicles.
2.) Preferred cubicles.
3.) Preferred feeder space.
4.) Access to brushes.
-Flow: Biggest and most frequent movement is in and out of milking parlour.

Question 4

Competition for feeder spaces?

Answer 4

-Overstocking consequences:
1.) Most agonistic behaviour in barns will be around the feeder.
2.) Percentage time at the feeder is related to dominance (higher rankers in the herd with the most time feeding).
3.) Competitive success at the feeder is positively correlated to milk yield.

Question 5

Focus areas?

Answer 5

-Cubicles:
1.) Access/ competition.
2.) Lying comfort.
-Foot baths:
1.) Flow.
2.) Contamination.
-Collecting Yard/Parlour:
1.) Flow.
-Brushes:
1.) Access/competition.
2.) Usage.

Question 6

Footbathing?

Answer 6

-Why do we footbathe cows? To reduce the incidence of lameness caused by infectious disease (Digit Dermatitis + Foul-in-the-foot).
Add a disinfectant solution to the footbath to reduce the incidence of Treponemes (Digital Dermatitis) and Dicholobacter (foul-in-the-foot).
1.) Formalin.
2.) Copper Sulphate.
3.) Zinc Sulphate.
4.) Commercial preparations.

Question 7

Footbathing is not a natural process for cows?

Answer 7

Need to use our understanding of cattle behaviour to design footbaths that cows are happy to go through on a regular basis.

Question 8

What do we need for a footpath?

Answer 8

-Length:
1.) Long enough for all four feet to step in.
2.) Not too long that cows defecate in it.
-Depth:
1.) Deep enough for feet to be fully submerged.
2.) Not so deep that a large step is needed.
-Good cow flow:
1.) Cows walk through without hesitation and without getting stressed.
-Management:
1.) Easy to fill/empty/clean.
-Flooring:
1.) Not slippery.

Question 9

What don’t cows like?

Answer 9

-Loud noises.
-Slippery floors.

Question 10

What do cows like?

Answer 10

-Brushes.
-Light airy spaces.

Question 11

Cubicles- why do cows need to lie down?

Answer 11

-Cows need rest; they are high-performing athletes.
- Up to 30% more blood flows to the udder.
- Reduce incidence of lameness.
-Allow more space in feed passages.

Question 12

Cubicles?

Answer 12

-Why do cows need to lie down?
1.) Cows need to rest; they are highly-performing athletes.
2.) Their feet need a rest and time to dry off –> reduce risk of lameness.
3.) Allow space in passageways/feed areas.
4.) Up 30% more blood flows through the udder when cows are lying down.
-Reduced cubicle comfort–> Cows won’t lie down, unless very tired –> lie down for long periods –> decrease feed/water –> reduced production + swollen hocks, etc.
-Not enough cubicles leads to:
1.) Reduced lying times.
2.) Increased standing times (especially subordinate cows).
3.) Increased lameness and claw lesions.
-Wet and soiled cubicles –> udder disease and lameness.

Question 13

Social Behaviour of cows?

Answer 13

-Cows will form social hierarchies depending on their age, weight, and territoriality.
-Their position within the hierarchy will affect their use of resources (e.g., cubicles).

Question 14

Identifying and Managing competition in loose housing systems?

Answer 14

-Dominance relationships regulate use of resources (e.g., differences in cubicle use differences even when 1:1 cubicles to cows).
-Consequences:
1.) Lying times are affected by social ranking.
2.) More low rankers develop lameness.

Question 15

Overstocking of cubicles?
Subordinate cows most likely to suffer.

Answer 15

-Consequences:
1.) Reduced lying time.
2.) Increased lameness.
3.) Increased cortisol.
4.) Decreased growth hormone.