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Cattle habitat selection and associated habitat characteristics under free-range grazing within heterogeneous Montane rangelands of Alberta
Contributor(s):: Kaufmann, Jillian, Bork, Edward W., Blenis, Peter V., Alexander, Michael J.
The integration of multiple uses on public rangeland requires reliable information on patterns of livestock use. We used GPS data and field plot utilization indices to examine cattle selection at the landscape and patch levels, respectively, within a heterogeneous Montane environment of SW...
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Cattle behaviours and stockperson actions related to impaired animal welfare at Swedish slaughter plants
Contributor(s):: Hultgren, Jan, Wiberg, Sofia, Berg, Charlotte, Cvek, Katarina, Lunner Kolstrup, Christina
At a slaughter plant, cattle are sometimes exposed to rough handling which may reduce animal welfare (AW). In an observational study at four Swedish commercial slaughter plants, AW-related behaviours of cattle and actions of abattoir stockpersons handling the same animals were recorded...
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Can stealing cows distort the results of feeding trials? An experiment for quantification and prevention of stealing feed by dairy cows from roughage intake control feeders
Contributor(s):: Ruuska, Salla, Hämäläinen, Wilhelmiina, Sairanen, Auvo, Juutinen, Elina, Tuomisto, Leena, Järvinen, Mikko, Mononen, Jaakko
Practical experience suggests that stealing behaviour of dairy cows may affect the results in feeding trials, when automated feed troughs are used for measuring and controlling the feed intake. The objectives of the present study were to analyse the stealing behaviour from the log data of the...
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Can ear postures reliably measure the positive emotional state of cows?
Contributor(s):: Proctor, Helen S., Carder, Gemma
Animal welfare science is increasingly concerned with the promotion of positive emotions in animals, yet little is known about how to measure them. We examined whether ear postures in dairy cows were reliable indicators of a low arousal, positive emotional state. We conducted a total of 381,...
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Behavioural mechanisms of intake rate by heifers grazing swards of contrasting structures
Contributor(s):: Mezzalira, Jean Carlos, De Faccio Carvalho, Paulo César, Fonseca, Lidiane, Bremm, Carolina, Cangiano, Carlos, Gonda, Horacio Leandro, Laca, Emilio Andrés
The relationship between herbage intake by herbivores and herbage available depends on the interaction between sward structure and animal behaviour. This relationship is a crucial component determining the stability, function and productivity of grazing systems. The present study aims at...
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Behavioural and physiological responses of heifer calves to acute stressors: Long-term consistency and relationship with adult reactivity to milking
Contributor(s):: Van Reenen, Cornelis G., Van der Werf, Jozef T. N., O’Connell, Niamh E., Heutinck, Leonie F. M., Spoolder, Hans A. M., Jones, R. Bryan, Koolhaas, Jaap M., Blokhuis, Harry J.
The present study investigated the long-term consistency of individual differences in dairy cattles’ responses in tests of behavioural and hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis reactivity, as well as the relationship between responsiveness in behavioural tests and the reaction to first...
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Automatic registration of grazing behaviour in dairy cows using 3D activity loggers
Contributor(s):: Nielsen, Per Peetz
Automated systems for monitoring behaviour of cows within dairy production are increasing and developments in technology provide new opportunities in this area. This study aimed to validate the use of a 3D activity logger (HOBO® Pendant G Data Logger), that registers the cow's head positions...
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Agreement between different sleep states and behaviour indicators in dairy cows
Contributor(s):: Ternman, Emma, Pastell, Matti, Agenäs, Sigrid, Strasser, Corina, Winckler, Christoph, Nielsen, Per Peetz, Hänninen, Laura
Conclusive data regarding behavioural indicators of different sleep states in adult dairy cows are lacking, i.e. agreement between behavioural indicators of sleep and corresponding electrophysiological measures. Behavioural estimates for quantifying total sleep time in calves have been developed,...
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Administration of a NSAID (meloxicam) affects lying behaviour after caesarean section in beef cows
Contributor(s):: Barrier, Alice C., Coombs, Tamsin M., Dwyer, Cathy M., Haskell, Marie J., Goby, Laurent
Very little is known about the pain experienced by cattle following caesarean section and hence little consideration has been given to managing it. Thus the purpose of this study was to investigate activity-related behavioural changes in response to pain, by pre-emptively administering a long...
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Winter housing conditions of cows of the Hérens breed do not influence fighting but modulate spacing behaviour on alpine pastures
Contributor(s):: Castro, Isabelle M. L., Gygax, Lorenz, Wechsler, Beat, Hauser, Rudolf
Cows of the Hérens breed are typically kept in small herds and three types of winter housing conditions feature in practical application: tie-barns with minimal winter outdoor exercise, this being taken singly or in pairs (“minimal exercise”), tie-barns with daily exercise as a complete herd...
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Training methods for introducing cows to a pasture-based automatic milking system
Contributor(s):: Jago, J., Kerrisk, K.
Training cows to use an automatic milking system (AMS) is an important process as this method of milking depends on cows voluntarily using the AMS. This study examined two levels of training before calving on the behaviour of cows and heifers in an extensive pasture-based AMS. Animals received...
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Training dogs on a scent platform for oestrus detection in cows
Contributor(s):: Fischer-Tenhagen, Carola, Wetterholm, Lennart, Tenhagen, Bernd-Alois, Heuwieser, Wolfgang
Dogs can be trained for various odour detection tasks, and have been used to search for explosives, drugs or cancer biomarkers. However, there are only a few studies that have attempted to train dogs for oestrus detection using vaginal fluid, milk or urine of cows. In this study, seven dogs were...
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Social licking in dairy cattle—Effects on heart rate in performers and receivers
Contributor(s):: Laister, Simone, Stockinger, Barbara, Regner, Anna-Maria, Zenger, Karin, Knierim, Ute, Winckler, Christoph
Using heart rate (HR) measurements we investigated whether potential calming effects of social licking were evident for both active (performers) and passive (receivers) licking partners. A HR decline was assumed to indicate relaxation and thus the experience of positive emotions. Effects of the...
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Sleep in dairy cows recorded with a non-invasive EEG technique
Contributor(s):: Ternman, Emma, Hänninen, Laura, Pastell, Matti, Agenäs, Sigrid, Nielsen, Per Peetz
Sufficient sleep time is important for both an adequate metabolic system and the immune function. Sleep in animals is often estimated by behavioural observations, or recorded on restrained animals with invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) techniques, which might affect sleep patterns. Earlier...
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A review of pain assessment techniques and pharmacological approaches to pain relief after bovine castration: Practical implications for cattle production within the United States
Contributor(s):: Coetzee, Johann F.
Castration of male calves destined for beef production is a common livestock management practice in the United States amounting to approximately 7 million procedures per year. Recently there has been renewed interest in identifying methods to reduce pain associated with dehorning and castration....
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Relationships between lameness and feeding behaviour in cubicle-housed Holstein–Friesian dairy cows
Contributor(s):: Palmer, Maeve A., Law, Ryan, O’Connell, Niamh E.
The relationship between lameness and feeding behaviour in dairy cows is not yet fully understood. This study examined the effect of lameness on feeding behaviour at two points during lactation. Forty-five Holstein–Friesian dairy cows (average parity 3.3) were housed in cubicle accommodation...
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Qualitative Behavioural Assessment of Angus steers during pre-slaughter handling and relationship with temperament and physiological responses
Contributor(s):: Stockman, Catherine A., McGilchrist, Peter, Collins, Teresa, Barnes, Anne L., Miller, David, Wickham, Sarah L., Greenwood, Paul L., Cafe, Linda M., Blache, Dominique, Wemelsfelder, Francoise, Fleming, Patricia A.
This study examined the behavioural expression of cattle immediately prior to slaughter through the process of Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA), and compared these results to measurements of physiology and temperament. Twenty-eight Angus steers were filmed while in a funnel chute as they...
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Preferences for overhead sprinklers by naïve beef steers: Test of two nozzle types
Contributor(s):: Parola, Fabia, Hillmann, Edna, Schütz, Karin E., Tucker, Cassandra B.
Sprinklers effectively reduce heat load in cattle. In some studies, however, cattle readily use sprinklers, while others find that they either avoid or show no preference for it. These studies differ in many ways including previous experience of the animals and the amount of water delivered. Our...
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Preference of dairy cows: Indoor cubicle housing with access to a total mixed ration vs. access to pasture
Contributor(s):: Charlton, Gemma L., Rutter, Steven Mark, East, Martyn, Sinclair, Liam A.
Cattle are grazing animals so it is generally assumed that pasture is a welfare friendly system as it is natural and allows the expression of normal behaviour, which may be restricted indoors. However, high yielding dairy cows may not be able to fulfil their nutritional demands from grass alone...
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Parturition progress and behaviours in dairy cows with calving difficulty
Contributor(s):: Barrier, Alice C., Haskell, Marie J., Macrae, Alastair I., Dwyer, Cathy M.
The welfare of dairy cows and their calves is compromised following a difficult calving. A better understanding of what happens during a difficult calving is needed to help prevent and alleviate adverse consequences through early diagnosis and/or pain mitigation. The objectives of this study were...
