Behavioural predictors of the start of normal and dystocic calving in dairy cows and heifers
The individual monitoring of dairy cows around the time of calving is important to identify calving difficulties or health problems as early as possible. This study aims to identify whether there are differences in the behaviour before calving, between heifers and cows, and between those that are assisted at calving and those that are not. […]
Effect of housing conditions on activity and lying behaviour of horses
Housing conditions for horses impose various levels of confinement, which may compromise welfare. Lying behaviour and activity can be used as welfare indicators for domestic animals and rebound behaviour suggests a build-up of motivation resulting from deprivation. The objective of this study was to determine if activity and lying behaviour of horses are affected by […]
The effect of temporary deprivation of lying and feeding on the behaviour and production of lactating dairy cows
Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of depriving dairy cows of the ability to feed and lie down for short periods, on behaviour and production. In experiment 1, cows were deprived by confining them in pairs in a pen for 2 or 4 h, and they more frequently exhibited behaviour likely to suggest […]
Does housing nulliparous dairy cows with multiparous animals prior to calving influence welfare- and production-related parameters after calving?
The aim of this experiment was to determine the effects of housing nulliparous cows with non-lactating multiparous cows during the pre-calving period, on welfare and production-related parameters during the post calving period. Twenty nulliparous Holstein Friesian dairy cattle were assigned to one of two treatments (‘Mixed and Unmixed’) pre-calving. The ‘Mixed’ treatment involved housing experimental […]
Effect of feed allowance at pasture on lying behaviour and locomotory ability of dairy cows
In temperate climates where cows are primarily managed at pasture shortages of grass could result in nutritional deficits for the cow and thus pose a challenge to her welfare. This study investigated the effect of daily herbage allowance (DHA) on dairy cow lying behaviour, locomotory ability, and some aspects of hoof health. Ninety-six cows were […]
Is Sarcoptes scabiei infection in pigs a major welfare concern? A quantitative assessment of its effect in the host’s nocturnal rubbing and lying behavior
The nocturnal rubbing and lying behavior of commercial fattening pigs from moderately (M) and heavily (H) Sarcoptes scabiei–infected farms was investigated. The study included 4 cohorts (2 per farm) of 11-15 acaricide-treated (uninfected) and untreated (infected) 4- to 7-month-old pigs, and the time and number of behavioral bouts were monitored for 350 hours over 101 days. Auricular […]
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND WELL-BEING SYMPOSIUM: Optimizing outcome measures of welfare in dairy cattle assessment
In most countries producing milk, industry-or other stakeholder-driven initiatives are in place to improve welfare and overall dairy farming sustainability. Those initiatives typically include a system of verification of reaching targets and progress over time. Reliable indicators are a fundamental requirement to provide public assurance and allow improvement on farms. Assessing dairy cattle welfare through […]