Gavojdian Dinu
Summary of the Theses
Summary of the Theses:
Contributions to the knowledge of some factors that are influencing
behavior of Romanian Black and White multiparous cows housed in tied
stanchion barn
Key words: animal behavior; multiparous cows; rearing system; Romanian Black and
White breed; feeding behavior; drinking behavior; ruminating behavior; resting and
sleeping behavior; elimination behavior.
Introduction
Actual evolution of all agricultural production systems made to appear new
criterions to appreciate the products obtained in this economical area, welfare of the
animals being one of those criterions. Now is needed a scale to evaluate the different
levels of welfare provided to farm animals. But to accomplish this, it is required a good
knowledge of applied animal behavior, for all domestic species reared in farms.
Why study cattle behavior? Actual publications that are international appreciated
(Journal of Dairy Science, Journal of Animal Science, Applied Animal Behavior Science,
CAB International UK and Science Direct) give great interest to animal behavior studies
and have special behavior chapters in their publications, next to other important sections
like nutrition, reproduction and animal genetics.
Why study Romanian Black and White breed? This breed and her crosses
represent 23% of our countries total cattle population.
Why study on multiparous cows? In most of articles regarding cattle behavior it
is mentioned that age of the animal and his previous experiences have an important
influence on behavior.
Why the thesis is focused on the first one hundred days of lactation? Because in
this period the cows organism is passing in a short while to different stressful stagies: dry
period-calving-lactation; adaptation of digestive tracts to a grater intake; mobilization of
body reserves; milk production is raising and in most cases reaches peak of lactation;
genital tract is involving after birth; first heat period and in some cases gestation.
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Summary of the Theses
Why tied stanchion barn rearing system? This type of system is most common in
our country. And it is adding theses an original touch, because most of the studies
regarding cattle behavior are focused on different loose rearing systems and on pasture.
Why winter and summer seasons? These two seasons are registering opposite
temperatures, we followed behavior of cows at temperatures below freezing point and in
temperatures much above this species comfort.
The thesis is divided in two parts. First part witch is the reference study,
made of three chapters on 95 pages, as follows:
Chapter 1
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
presents the modern and historic development of animal behavior studies; different
aspects and factors that are influencing animal behavior; classification of behavioral
patterns; ontogeny and phylogeny of behavior.
Chapter 2
MAIN TRAITS OF BOVINE BEHAVIOURAL PATTERNS presents
methods used in animal behavior science and role played by the sense organs in
perception of the external environment, especial in bovine species. In this chapter are
presented also the main behavioral patterns in cattle, being treated the following aspects:
feeding and elimination behavior; resting behavior; social behavior; reproduction
behavior; maternal and newborn behavior; exploratory behavior and learning process in
cattle.
Chapter 3
CATTLE HOUSING SYSTEMS presents the main rearing systems used for
dairy cows. In this chapter are treated different aspects of technological implications on
behavior of cattle, especially on lactating cows. Being presented also advantages and
disadvantages of each type of housing system, used for dairy cows.
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Gavojdian Dinu
Summary of the Theses
The second part of theses is structured in five chapters plus general
conclusions and bibliography, on 189 pages, as follows:
Chapter 4
In this chapter are described aims of the study, conditions during the
experiments, biological material studied, methods used in current study and
microclimate conditions during the experiments.
Numerous national and international scientifically researches pursued the
importance of knowing different farm species behavior, in modern husbandry. Behavior
changes tell us the impact that comfort offered to animal and rearing technology have on
the welfare. And if those factors are appropriate to the needs that the animals
physiological category and production level are suited. Alteration of behavior do to some
stressful factors may influence negatively production, reproduction and sometimes even
survival of animal. Aim of present study is mainly description of principals behavior
patterns in multiparous Romanian Black and White cows, in their first one hundred days
of lactation, reared in tied stanchion barn during total confinement, in both winter and
summer season.
Experiments were carried out in the Didactical farm of the Banat University of
Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Timisoara.
Experiments were carried out during two experiments, first experiment was made
during winter season (February 2007), and second one in July 2007 (summer season).
During the experiments and accommodation periods of animals with different
experimental variants, cows were housed 24 hours per day in tied stalls.
Cows had permanent access to a water source. Water was proper for cow to drink,
with an average temperature ranging between 14 and 19 points on Celsius scale.
Stalls used for housing were made out of concrete, and as bedding material were
used straws. For each cow and day were used on average four kilograms of straws during
winter season and two during summer season.
Cows were treated as a single group, being slightly isolated by the rest of cows
housed in the same shed. Cows were milked twice a day, at approximately 5:00 and
17:00, by the same person, to avoid new stress on the animals.
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Summary of the Theses
During winter season, cows received a daily ration consisting in: 20 kilograms of
corn silage; 8 kilograms of lolium hay; 3 kilograms of concentrates and 4 kilograms of
browers yeast.
In summer season, ration offered to cows was: 20 kilograms of alfalfa fresh feed;
4 kilograms of concentrates and 5 kilograms of browers yeast.
Rations were administrated in two and three meals per day, and in winter season
in different orders (hay-corn silage; corn silage-hay). Forages and leftovers were
measured using an electronically scale.
During our experiments we used 20 multiparous cows, ten cows for each
experimental season.
In first experimental group (winter season) cows registered an average body
weight of 617 kilograms, with an average daily yield of 15.4 kilograms and the average
age of cows of 3.1 lactations (with limits ranging between 2 and 4 lactations).
The second experimental group (summer season) had an average body weight of
the cows of 581.6 kilograms, average daily yield by 20.5 kilograms of milk and age of
the cows was on average
by 2.9 lactations (with limits ranging between 2 and 5
lactations).
Methods used in current study were similar for both experimental seasons, as
follows:
- Choosing the cows for experimental groups, made one the farms evidences and
data’s offered by U.A.R.Z.Timis;
- Organization of cows feeding during the experiments based on production levels
of cows and their body weights;
- Accommodation of the animals to experimental conditions, for each
experimental variant was made an accommodation of minimum two days;
- Video recording of the animals, using four video cameras (CC9622BIR)
connected to a video capture device of 125 fps (frames per second) with four channels.
- Daily measuring of the feed and leftovers;
- Surveillance of video registering device;
- Measuring daily the milk production;
- Daily measuring of microclimate factors;
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Summary of the Theses
- Analyzing video recordings for each cow, and experimental day;
- Statistical analyzing of data’s obtained.
In order to better analyze the time spent by the cows on different activities,
experimental days were divided in three segments, as follows: segment I form 7:00 to
14:00; segment II from 14:00 to 21:00 and segment III, from 21:00 to 07:00.
During the winter experimental season, average temperature inside barn registered
was 8.5 Celsius degrees and outside barn, 6 Celsius degrees. Humidity of air was on
average 76% inside barn, and 64% outside.
In summer season during our experiments, average temperature inside barn was
registered 28.4 Celsius degrees, and 28.05 Celsius degrees outside the pen. With an
average humidity of the air of 45.1 inside pen and 39.2 outside the pen.
The barn was under continuous lightning.
Chapter 5
RESEARCHES CONCERNING RESTING BEHAVIOUR IN DAIRY
COWS
Studied traits:
- time spend resting in 24 hours and during segments of the day;
- position of cows during resting periods (standing-lying);
- time spend sleeping in 24 hours and during segments of the day;
- number of sleeping periods and their average time length, on 24 hours and
segments of the day;
- position of cows during 24 hours and segments of the day.
Cows spend resting during winter season per day, on average 379.95 minutes
(6.33 hours), value that represents 26.38% of 24 hours. In standing position cows spend
resting per day, on average 277.40 minutes and in lying position, spend resting 97.55
minute. From total time spend resting, cows proffered standing position (73% from total
resting time) to resting in lying position (only 25.67% from total resting time). In summer
season cows studied spent resting on average per day 613.75 minutes (10.22 hours),
amount of time that represents 42.62 percents of a days total time. Standing position for
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Summary of the Theses
resting was adopted by cows in this season on average in 453.65 minutes, value that
represents 73.91 percents of total time allocated to resting behavior per day. In lying
position, cows spent resting on average 160 minutes, respectively 26.06 percents of total
time spent resting per 24 hours. Differences registered in between the two seasons for
total time spent resting on 24 hours were on average of 233.80 minutes, in favor of the
summer season, differences registered were very significantly statistically (p0.001).
During winter season cows spent sleeping per 24 hours, on average 179.55
minutes (2.99 hours) in 8.55 sleeping periods, with an average duration of a sleeping
period of 21.30 minutes. In summer season cows spent sleeping on average 202.80
minutes (3.38 hours) per 24 hours, in 9.30 sleeping periods, with an average duration of a
single sleeping period of 24.94 minutes. In both seasons, longest sleeping periods were
registered during night time. Season had an statistically influence (p0.05) on total time
spent sleeping per 24 hours, differences registered between the two seasons were 23.25
minutes in favor of the summer season. Average number of sleeping periods and duration
of a sleeping period were not influenced statistically (p0.05).
Position adopted by cows (lying-standing) during 24 hours in winter season was
as follows: in standing position cows spent on average 858.75 minutes (14.31 hours),
value that represents 59.63 percents of total day duration; in lying position cows spent on
average per day 581.25 minutes (9.68 hours) value that represents 40.36 percents of
whole interval.
In summer season position adopted by cows was mainly standing position,
spending in this position on average 909.90 minutes (15.16 hours), value that represents
62.70 percents of the whole interval. Lying position was adopted by cows on average for
537.10 minutes (9.55 hours), value that represents 37.27 percents of 24 hours. Season had
no drastically influence on the position adopted by cows per 24 hours (p0.05).
Chapter 6
FEEDING AND DRINKING BEHAVIOUR
Studied traits:
- time spend by the cows foraging, per day and on daily segments;
- number of feeding periods and average time length of a foraging period;
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Summary of the Theses
- intake rate of the forages;
- drinking bouts and duration of drinking periods;
- frequency of drinking periods during the two experimental seasons;
- time length between consumption of forages and first drinking period;
- time length between milking and first drinking period.
On 24 hours, during winter season cows spent consuming forages on average
341.90 minutes (5.69 hours), value that represents 23.74 percents of duration of a day.
Feed was consumed in 17.50 foraging periods, with an average time length of a feeding
period of 20.31 minutes. In summer season, cows spent feeding on average 199.35
minutes per 24 hours (3.32 hours), value that represents 13.84 percents of a days span.
Per day were registered a number of 6.90 feeding periods, average duration of a period
being of 29.41 minutes. Comparing the two seasons, cows spent in the summer season
less with 142.55 minutes foraging, number of consumption periods in this season was
lower also, on average with 10.6 periods, but time length of a foraging period was longer
in summer compared with winter with 9.10 minutes. For all the three studied traits,
differences registered between the two seasons were very significant statistically
(p0.001).
Speed consumption of the forages (couched in minutes needed for the intake a
kilogram of raw fed) for the forages administrated during winter season was: 24.82
minutes per lolium hay; 5.43 minutes for corn silage; 3.18 minutes for concentrates and
2.59 minutes for brewers yeast.
Sped consumption of forages administrated during summer season experiment
was registered as follows: 7.90 minutes for alfalfa fresh feed; 3.17 minutes for
concentrates and 2.54 minutes for the brewers yeast.
Average number of drinking bouts on 24 hours registered during winter season
was 8.15, and 16.10 during summer season. Differences registered between the two
seasons for this trait were very significantly statistic (p0.001).
Average duration of a drinking period was registered to be of 0.82 minutes during
winter season and of 0.84 minutes during summer season. Thereby, we can estimate an
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Summary of the Theses
average water intake per 24 hours of 7 minutes during winter season and 14 minutes
during summer season.
Chapter 7
RUMINATION BEHAVIOUR
Studied traits:
- time spend by the cows ruminating, on 24 hours and on daily segments;
- number and average time length of rumination periods;
- position of cows during rumination periods (standing-lying) on 24 hours and
daily segments;
- time length between consumption of the feed and debut of rumination period;
- time length between milking and debut of rumination period;
- average number of cud chewing’s per minute;
- average number of chews per food bolus.
Whole rumination process during winter season was registered on average to take
place in 517.55 minutes, value that represents 35.94 percents in a day. Most rumination
process had place especially during night time (segment III), in this time cows spent
ruminating on average 323.30 minutes, value that represents 62.46 percents of all
rumination process per 24 hours.
During summer period, rumination was registered to have place on average in
401.80 minutes, value that represents 27.90 percent of 24 hours interval. Same like in the
winter season, in summer to most of the rumination process tacked place during night
time - 209.80 minutes, value that represents 52.21 percents of whole interval. Differences
registered between the two seasons were on average by 115.75 minutes (p0.001).
Average number of rumination periods per 24 hours was of 17.35 during winter
season and of 15.80 during summer season. Differences between the two seasons
registered were by 1.5 rumination periods (p0.05), differences significant statistically.
Time length of a rumination period registered per 24 hours was on average of
30.30 minutes in winter season and 25.72 minutes during summer season. Differences
registered were of 4.58 minutes, also significant statistically (p0.05).
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Summary of the Theses
Winter cows preferred to ruminate in lying position most of the cases, 324.05
minutes up against ruminating in standing position – 186.35 minutes per 24 hours. From
total time spent ruminating per 24 hours, cows ruminated in lying position 63.48 percents
of the process, compared with ruminating in standing position, only 36.52 percents of the
entire process. A different situation was recorded in summer season, when cows preferred
standing position while ruminate (56.09 percents of the cases) to ruminate in lying
position (43.91 percents of the cases).
Average number of chewing’s per minute in winter season registered was 58.45
and 53.94 during summer season. Difference between the two seasons were of 4.51
chewing’s per minute, very significantly statistically (p0.001).
For the number of cud chews per food bolus, average number registered per 24
hours in winter season was of 58.45 and of 48.63 during summer season. Difference
between the two seasons being by 9.43 cud chews per food bolus. Same as in the case of
the number of cud chews per minute, differences in between the two seasons is great, in
favor of winter season, when the ruminating process is more intense compared with the
summer season. Major influences of the intensity of the rumination process have both the
D.M.I. (dry matter intake) content of the feed and also the cellulose levels of the ration.
Chapter 8
ELIMINATION BEHAVIOUR
Studied traits:
- number of defecation periods;
- frequency of the defecation periods during 24 hours ant segments of the day;
- time length between raising in standing position and first defecation period;
- number of urination periods;
- frequency of the urination periods during 24 hours ant segments of the day;
- time length between raising in standing position and first urination period;
Average number of defecting periods per 24 hours registered during winter season
was of 8.60 and of 8.50 periods during summer season. Between the two seasons
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Summary of the Theses
differences were sub traced, only of 0.10 defecation periods, this difference was not
significantly statistically (p0.05).
Highest frequency of the defecation periods was registered during intense human
activity in the shed, especially during milking and feeding time, when cows were forced
to stand up.
O relatively lower frequency of the defecating periods can be observed during
intense resting and ruminating behavior, especially during night time.
Time length between passing in standing position, and first defecation period was
on average of 24.16 minutes during winter and of 26.12 minutes during summer season.
During night, average time for this trait is more reduced compared with day time,
averages being of 5.65 minutes during winter and 5.50 during summer nights. For this
trait, differences registered between the two seasons were not significant statistically
(p0.05).
Cows during winter season registered on average number of urination periods per
24 hours of 8.40. A slightly smaller number of urinations were registered during summer
season, of 7.35 per 24 hours. Differences between the two seasons are of 1.05 urination
periods, value very significantly statistic (p0.001).
O relatively lower frequency of the urination periods was registered during
intense rumination and resting periods, especially during night time.
Time length between passing in standing position and first urination period was
registered during winter to be of 20.77 minutes and 21.75 minutes during summer season.
During night time, time length for this trait was much shorter, only of 8.05 minutes
during winter season and of 7.30 minutes during summer season. Between the two
seasons, differences registered were not significant statistically (p0.05).
In table S.1. is presented a synthesis data regarding duration (minutes) and
frequency (periods) of various activities of cows during both summer and winter seasons.
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Summary of the Theses
Table S.1.
Total
per.
Lying
Stand.
Lying
Stand.
Defecating
Urinating
3.8
92.6
3.7
56.3
36.3
106.6
313.3
2.7
2.8
8.5
3.1
101.6
3.9
40.0
61.6
81.9
338.1
2.9
2.7
25.8
1.6
1.1
323.3
9.7
227.7
88.4
392.7
207.3
2.9
2.9
8.5
341.9
17.5
8.1
517.5
17.3
324.0
186.3
581.2
858.7
8.6
8.4
24.1
1.1
99.6
3.3
5.7
87.6
3.7
31.5
56.1
94.4
325.6
2.1
1.8
130.9
40.2
1.8
84.2
2.7
4.8
104.4
4.4
38.7
65.6
130.2
289.7
2.5
2.2
67.6
163.1
138.6
6.2
15.5
0.8
5.5
209.8
7.7
106.2
103.6
312.4
287.5
3.9
3.2
613.7
160.0
453.6
202.8
9.3
199.3
6.9
16.1
401.8
15.8
176.4
225.3
537.1
902.9
8.5
7.3
Winter - summer *
- 233.8
- 62.5
- 176.2
- 23.3
- 0.80
142.6
10.6
-8
115.7
1.5
147.6
- 39
44.1
- 44.2
0.1
1.1
Statistically differences
***
***
***
*
ns
***
***
***
***
*
***
ns
ns
ns
ns
***
Summer
Winter
Season
Drinking
Synthesis table regarding duration (min) and frequency ( per) of various activities of cows during
winter and summer seasons
Resting
Sleeping
Feeding
Interval
Total
Lying
Stand.
min
per.
min
per.
7:00-14:00
145.0
34.7
110.3
16.0
1.0
158.3
7.4
14:00-21:00
137.7
29.0
108.7
12.9
0.7
157.7
21:00-7: 00
92.2
33.8
58.4
150.6
6.7
On 24 hours
379.9
97.5
277.4
179.5
7:00-14:00
200.2
40.6
159.6
14:00-21:00
182.6
51.7
21:00-7:00
230.7
On 24 hours
Ruminating
Position
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