SAC Research

Aims of Research

To develop research and knowledge transfer links between dairy cow behaviour, animal breeding and dairy cow systems research activities in SAC. To consider appropriate measures of cow adaptation for implementation at the Dairy Research Centre.

• where there are genetic changes in welfare-related traits, but changes to management or housing do not keep pace with the demands of the changing genotype;
• where the required environmental adjustments impact on other relevant welfare aspects (e.g. effects of longer indoor housing on lameness or behavioura restriction in dairy cows).

A relevant area for research is to consider how best to improve adaptation of cows to current production systems. The current genotype x systems research at the SAC Dairy Research Centre is a good resource to investigate issues relating to the adaptation of genotypes to different systems.

A major advantage of selection indexes widely used in animal breeding is that all traits (production or welfare based) can be compared on a common currency (£). This exposes ‘hidden economic costs’ of traits such as mastitis and encourages use of healthier cows by producers.

Our consortium of animal breeding and behaviour/welfare researchers has won a Defra LINK grant (RobustCow) to further develop breeding approaches to increase adaptation of dairy cows.

Future work needs to consider how best to value non-economic aspects of welfare traits such as cow pain/discomfort.

We have piloted a range of tests of behavioural adaptation at the Dairy Research Centre including measures of aggression, and responses to humans and to environmental stimuli.