Identifying changes in dairy cow behaviour to predict calving

H.M. Miedema; A.I. Macrae; C. Dwyer; M.S. Cockram

Identifying changes in dairy cow behaviour to predict calving

In: Precision livestock farming '09

Authors:

H.M. Miedema

H.M. Miedema ¹The University of Edinburgh, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom

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A.I. Macrae

A.I. Macrae ¹The University of Edinburgh, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom

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C. Dwyer

C. Dwyer ²Scottish Agricultural College, Sustainable Livestock Systems, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, United Kingdom

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M.S. Cockram

M.S. Cockram ³University of Prince Edward Island, Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, C1A 4P3, Canada

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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 201–205

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086866632_025

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Dystocia can result in significant economic loss due to cow and calf deaths, as well as reduced milk production and reproductive performance. Experienced stockmen use judgements based on physical and behavioural changes to recognise when cows may be about to calve, and offer assistance when required. With large herd sizes, and large numbers of cows per stockman, individual attention is difficult. This study aims to identify consistent behavioural changes which could potentially be used to predict calving. The behaviour of twenty multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows housed in straw-bedded pens, under continuous fluorescent or infra-red lighting, was recorded for 24 hours prior to the calf being expelled and for a 24-hour control period during late pregnancy. Continuous focal observations from video recordings were used to quantify the frequencies and durations of behaviours during 6-hour periods. For each 6-hour period, Wilcoxon tests were used to examine differences between behaviour during the calving and control periods. The frequencies of lying and tail raising were the most useful indicators of calving, as they showed consistent changes in the final 6-hour period during calving. During this period, lying frequency (number of lying bouts/6- hour period) was significantly higher (P<0.001) at calving (median = 13, inter-quartile range = 9-17) than during late pregnancy (median = 4, IQR = 3-5), and all cows showed an increase of ≥2 bouts. The frequency of tail raising also increased significantly (P<0.001) during the final 6 hours before calving (median = 35, IQR = 27-55) compared to the control period (median = 5, IQR = 3-7). Durations of lying, walking, eating and ground-licking, and number of walking bouts, did not show consistent changes at the time of calving. This study has shown that counting transitions between standing and lying, or tail raises, could potentially be useful for predicting calving.

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Precision livestock farming '09

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086866632

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 30 Oct 2009

Subjects
- Life Sciences
  - General
  - Animal & Veterinary

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Identifying changes in dairy cow behaviour to predict calving

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Precision livestock farming '09

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