Short communication. Behavioural activities of two dairy cow genotypes (Holstein-Friesian vs. Jersey x Holstein-Friesian) in two milk production systems (grazing vs. confinement)

Roca-Fernández, A. I.; Ferris, C.P.

doi:10.5424/sjar/2013111-2682

Cited by 25 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(11 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…From the animal welfare point of view, pasture‐based dairy systems are considered a natural environment for dairy cattle (Clutton‐Brock, ) since it allows the expression of the normal behavior of the species, such as grazing (Olmos et al, ). Overall, the cows spend between 90% and 95% of the day grazing, ruminating, and resting in pastoral systems (Kilgour, ) and all these behaviors are considered as positive indicators of animal welfare (Krawczel & Grant, ; Olmos et al, ; Roca‐Fernández, Ferris, & González‐Rodríguez, ). In this sense and in comparison with confinement systems, pasture‐based system has advantages on the animal welfare.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet change from a system combining total mixed ration and pasture to confinement system (total mixed ration) on milk production and composition, blood biochemistry and behavior of dairy cows

Grille

Adrien

Olmos

et al. 2019

Animal Science Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study aimed to determine if a diet change from a mixed system to a confinement system affects the milk production and composition, behavior and blood biochemistry of dairy cows. Cows were assigned randomly to one of the two treatments: cows fed with TMR (total‐mixed‐ration) (confined) throughout the period group fed TMR (GTMR, n = 15) and cows that changed their diet from pasture plus TMR to exclusive TMR at 70 ± 14 DIM (GCHD, n = 15). GTMR cows produced more milk and greater lactose and protein yield before the change of diet than GCHD cows (p ≤ .01), but these differences disappeared after the change. GCHD cows decreased the frequency of rumination and lying from before to after the change (p ≤ .03), but in GTMR cows no changes were observed. After diet change, GCHD cows had lower frequency of rumination and lying than GTMR cows (p ≤ .02). Before the change, GCHD cows had greater NEFA (non esterified fatty acids) concentrations than GTMR cows (p = .002). Abrupt change from a mixed system to a confined system was favorable on blood biochemical and milk variables of dairy cows. However, in relation to behavior, the cows expressed difficulties to adapt quickly to the abrupt change of system.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet change from a system combining total mixed ration and pasture to confinement system (total mixed ration) on milk production and composition, blood biochemistry and behavior of dairy cows

Grille

Adrien

Olmos

et al. 2019

Animal Science Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For example, access to pasture provides better opportunities for livestock to act out their species-specific behavior compared to the restrictive stable conditions [ 3 ]. Cows at pasture showed more herd synchronization [ 4 ], spent more time lying [ 5 ] and showed less agonistic behavior [ 6 ] in contrast to confined animals. These behavior patterns are part of one of the five freedoms [ 7 ] to ensure animal welfare, namely “freedom of expressing normal behavior.” Furthermore, previous studies on various health parameters indicated for instance less lameness in systems with grazing [ 5 , 8 , 9 ], a reduced number of integument lesions [ 10 , 11 ], and decreased incidence of mastitis [ 12 , 13 ] compared to stable housing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Daily Grazing Time on Dairy Cow Welfare—Results of the Welfare Quality® Protocol

Wagner¹,

Brinkmann²,

March³

et al. 2017

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Simple SummaryIt is often presumed that grazing dairy cows experience better welfare than those that are housed all year round. But is this really the case? In this study, we wanted to find out whether the daily amount of time cows spent on pasture affected their welfare. We used the Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for dairy cattle to measure cow welfare on 32 farms (organic and conventional) once in winter (=housing period) and once in summer (=grazing period, if provided). Farms were grouped according to daily grazing time (‘minor/zero’, ‘medium’, and ‘high’). In farms with grazing, overall welfare improved from winter to summer, whereas the situation in minor/zero grazing farms remained largely unchanged. While we found no overall effect of the amount of daily grazing time on cow welfare, the individual measures “% of cows with hairless patches” and “% of lame cows” received better scores in the high grazing farms. However, other measures e.g., related to water provision, scored worse in the grazing farms in summer as opposed to winter. We conclude that grazing offers a high potential to enhance dairy cow welfare during summer. However, beneficial effects are not guaranteed when the overall management does not satisfy the cows´ needs.AbstractGrazing provides livestock better opportunities to act out their species-specific behavior compared to restrictive stable conditions. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of daily grazing time on welfare of dairy cows in organic and conventional farms based on the Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for dairy cattle (WQ®). Therefore, we applied the WQ® on 32 dairy farms (classified in 3 groups: Group 0, minor/zero grazing, n = 14; Group 1, medium grazing, n = 10; Group 2, high grazing, n = 8). We assessed the status of animal welfare once in winter and once in summer. For statistical analyses we used mixed models for repeated measures, with group, season, and their interaction as fixed factors. At the WQ® criteria level, five out of nine examined criteria improved in farms with grazing between winter and summer. In contrast, the welfare situation in minor/zero grazing farms remained largely unchanged. At the level of WQ® measures, only the individual parameters “% of cows with hairless patches” and “% of lame cows” were affected positively by high grazing. Grazing offers a potential to enhance welfare of dairy cows during the summer season, while beneficial effects are not guaranteed when management does not satisfy the animals´ needs.

show abstract

“…In addition, grazing as such produces an increase in energy expenditure (for walking and grazing) compared to animals with food easily available as a TMR [20]. This idea is supported by the fact that cows in the Post-TMR group increased estimated energy requirements maintenance [16] by 10% from −1 to +1 wk (+55 to +69 DIM).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metabolic Adaptations Due to the Inclusion of Pasture in the Diet of Dairy Cows Fed Total Mixed Ration during Early Lactation

Astessiano¹,

Meikle²,

Chilibroste³

et al. 2017

OJAS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic adaptations due to the inclusion of pasture in the diet of dairy cows fed on a total mixed ration (TMR) ad libitum during early lactation. Multiparous cows (n = 18) were used in a randomized complete block design and were randomly assigned according to parity, BW and BCS to one of two feeding strategies from calving to 60 DIM: 1) cows fed TMR ad libitum (without access to pasture; 100% TMR) and 2) cows fed on a mixed system with pasture grazing (6 h of access to paddock in one grazing session, 8:00 to 14:00 h) and supplemented with 50% of ad libitum TMR (Pasture Group, PG). At 61DIM, TMR fed cows were assigned without an adjustment period to a similar feeding and management routine than PG group (Post-TMR), while PG cows remained in their original routine throughout the experiment. Thus, at 61DIM and thereafter, both, PG and Post-TMR cows grazed a second-year pasture and were supplemented with 50% TMR (DM basis). Milk production was determined daily until 80 DIM, and cow BCS and BW were registered and blood samples and liver biopsies were obtained one week before and one week after dietary change (−1 to +1 wk; +55 and +69 DIM). Milk yield, BW and BCS did not differ between treatments but decreased or tended to decreased from −1 to +1 wk only in Post-TMR cows. Serum IGF-1 tended to increase in Post-TMR cows. Hepatic expression of IGFBP5 and IGFBP6 mRNA, were greater while IGF1 and IGFBP3 mRNA tended to be greater for Post-TMR than PG cows. Hepatic expression of IGF1, IGFBP5 and IGFBP6 mRNA increased from −1 to + 1 wk only in Post-TMR cows. Expression of ACADVL and PDH1A mRNA had a 2-fold increase in both groups from wks −1 to +1. The results confirm that changes in feeding strategy without an adaptation period modified animal metabolism. The inclusion of grazing to cows that were fed TMR during early 128lactation, increased IGF-1 concentrations and modified hepatic expression of genes related with IGF system and fatty acid metabolism indicating redistribution of nutrients and energy towards maintenance requirements (increased due to walking and grazing activity) in detriment of milk production.

show abstract

Short communication. Behavioural activities of two dairy cow genotypes (Holstein-Friesian vs. Jersey x Holstein-Friesian) in two milk production systems (grazing vs. confinement)

Cited by 25 publications

References 10 publications

Diet change from a system combining total mixed ration and pasture to confinement system (total mixed ration) on milk production and composition, blood biochemistry and behavior of dairy cows

Diet change from a system combining total mixed ration and pasture to confinement system (total mixed ration) on milk production and composition, blood biochemistry and behavior of dairy cows

Impact of Daily Grazing Time on Dairy Cow Welfare—Results of the Welfare Quality® Protocol

Metabolic Adaptations Due to the Inclusion of Pasture in the Diet of Dairy Cows Fed Total Mixed Ration during Early Lactation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About