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Lameness and lying behavior in grazing dairy cows.
A J Thompson1, D M Weary1, J A Bran2
1Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Journal of Dairy Science
|May 14, 2019
Summary
Consistent lameness in dairy cows affects lying behavior, especially during rainy weather. Precipitation significantly impacts lying time and bout duration, highlighting its importance in dairy cow welfare studies.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Veterinary Medicine
- Dairy Cattle Management
Background:
- Lameness is a significant welfare concern in dairy cows, impacting herd health and behavior.
- Previous research on lying behavior in grazing cows has not accounted for environmental factors like precipitation.
- Understanding lameness and lying behavior is crucial for improving dairy cow welfare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate between-cow and within-cow changes in lying behavior related to lameness status in grazing dairy cows.
- To determine the influence of precipitation on the lying behavior of dairy cows.
- To differentiate lying behavior patterns in cows with consistent versus changing lameness.
Main Methods:
- Gait scoring (NRS 1-5) was performed weekly for 4 weeks on 252 grazing dairy cows across 6 farms in Brazil.
- Lying behavior (lying time, bout duration, number of bouts) was continuously monitored using leg-mounted accelerometers for 3 weeks.
- Cow-level data (parity, days in milk, BCS) and regional precipitation/temperature were recorded.
Main Results:
- Consistent lameness in cows reduced lying time and bouts on rainy days compared to dry days.
- Precipitation was associated with decreased daily lying time, longer lying bouts, and fewer lying bouts.
- No significant within-cow effect of changing lameness status on lying behaviors was observed.
Conclusions:
- The impact of consistent lameness on dairy cow lying behavior is influenced by rainfall.
- Precipitation is a critical environmental factor affecting lying behavior in grazing dairy cows.
- Future studies on grazing dairy cow lying behavior should incorporate precipitation as a covariate for accurate analysis.
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