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Behavioural Studies Relating To The Welfare Of Intensively Managed Dairy Cows
Published: Mon, 10 Jan 2005
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Research Note Full Title
Behavioural studies relating to the welfare of intensively managed dairy cows
Parts of the UK dairy industry are becoming more intensive, as typified by year-round housing systems for cows (‘zero-grazing’), and the use of high yielding lines of Holstein cows. In other species of livestock, intensification is associated with welfare issues including performance of stereotypic behaviours (abnormal repetitive behaviours), increased aggression, alteration to the pattern of behaviours and fear of humans.
We have recently completed research in SAC that:
- Used a range of behavioural and physical measures to assess the effect of intensification on the welfare of dairy cows
- Provided an understanding of the impact of housing duration, housing quality and genotype on cow welfare
Objectives
Farmer questionnaire
Returns from a farmer questionnaire were used to identify five farm types that are representative of UK dairy farms. These were: high, medium and low milk production farms using cubicle housing in the winter only, high production zero-grazing farms with cubicle housing and medium production straw court systems.
On-farm studies
37 farms across the UK with Holstein/Holstein Friesian cows were sampled from the five farm types. A range of measures of cow behaviour, cow health and physical condition, stockpersonship and building quality were taken on each farm.
Outcomes
Achievements
- We found little evidence that intensification, in the form of zero-grazing, restricted dairy cow behaviour. Stereotypic behaviours were very rare in all farm types. High levels of milk production in both zero-grazing and conventional management systems did not lead to perturbations in feeding patterns or affect levels of aggression. Cows on zero-grazing units were more friendly and interactive toward an unfamiliar human.
- Zero-grazing systems were associated with a higher than average lameness score and more knee swellings relative to other farm types. Cows in straw courts are less likely to be lame, and had fewer hock and knee injuries.
- Behaviour of cows in straw courts was more synchronised. There was more aggression at the feedface on these farms, probably as a result of increased synchronisation.
Lameness and hock and knee swellings were higher in cubicles with no lunging area. - Cow body condition score was negatively correlated with length of feedface/cow.
- Heifers incurred most aggression at the feedtrough, but they were still present there during peak feeding times, perhaps indicating hunger.