Individual differences in the reaction of beef cattle to situations involving social isolation, close proximity of humans, restraint and novelty

Kilgour, R.; Melville, Gavin J.; Greenwood, P. L.

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2005.09.012

Cited by 108 publications

(104 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Behavioral responses that have been described to be consistent within individuals, thus describing variation in personality, include responses to humans (Gibbons et al, 2009), to novel environments (Le Neindre, 1989), to novel objects (Kilgour et al, 2006), and responses to social isolation (e.g., Müller and Schrader, 2005). Consistency in stepping and kicking behavior during milking is to our knowledge not yet demonstrated, despite its common use as a behavioral test in cattle (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, responses to social isolation are often part of behavioral tests of cattle (e.g. Kilgour et al, 2006), but are not often investigated in relation to milk production (e.g. investigated in calves up to 29 weeks of age, van Reenen et al, 2004).…”

Section: (Iii) the Relationships Between Behavior And Milk Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A new object was used for each observation set to avoid habituation (according to e.g. Kilgour et al, 2006). The objects used were a blue Pilates ball (Ø 60 cm), a pink umbrella (Ø 1 m), and a blue and white plastic bag (60 x 60 x 25 cm).…”

Section: Behavioral Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fear describes stress responses to direct threats, while anxiety and nervousness describe responses to potential danger (Forkman et al, 2007;Öhman, 2010). For dairy cows, several responses to potential threats are commonly recorded, such as responses to unfamiliar humans (e.g., Gibbons et al, 2009), or novelty (also called neophobia, Kilgour et al, 2006;Forkman et al, 2007). In addition, because cows are strictly social animals, social isolation elicits behavior related to fear and nervousness, such as vigilance and vocalization (Müller and Schrader, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Personality and production: Nervous cows produce less milk

Hedlund

Løvlie

2015

Journal of Dairy Science

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Summary: We investigated the relationship between variation in animal personality and production traits in dairy cows. Behaviors were scored during milking, in response to novel object and social separation. We demonstrate that cows that step more during milking, or that respond stronger to social separation have lower milk production. These results are of interest to researchers in animal personality, animal production and welfare, and may have implications for improvement of milk production and welfare of dairy cows. ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to investigate relationships between animal personality (i.e. consistency in behavioral responses, also called temperament) and milk production in dairy cows. There has recently been a growing research interest in animal personality, which in production animals can have important impact on welfare and production potential. Despite this, the relationship between personality and milk production in dairy cows remains unclear.Here we investigate links between behavioral responses during milking and in personality tests (responses to novel object and social isolation) with milk production in two breeds of dairy cattle, Swedish red and white cattle (SRB) and Holstein. The milk production parameters investigated were ECM (Energy Corrected Milk in kg) for the cows' first lactation, and ECM for their current lactation. Overall, cows that stepped more during milking, or spent more time facing the herd during social isolation produced less milk in their first lactation. Cows that vocalized more during isolation had a lower current milk production.Variation in other behavioral responses showed limited relationships with milk production.Taken together, our results support a relationship between behavioral responses and milk production, where cows showing signs of nervousness produce less milk. However, observed relationships are dependent on the milk measure utilized, behavior and breed investigated, supporting that the relationship between behavior and production traits is not straight forward.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: (Iii) the Relationships Between Behavior And Milk Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Behavioral Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Personality and production: Nervous cows produce less milk

Hedlund

Løvlie

2015

Journal of Dairy Science

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“…JONES & GOSLING (2005) chamaram a atenção para a falta de padronização nos termos utilizados para descrever o temperamento em cães. Nas espécies de produção, principalmente bovinos, há também falta de padronização e definição dos escores utilizados (KILGOUR et al, 2006;SILVEIRA et al, 2006). Um bom teste de temperamento será relevante seguro e discriminatório.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified