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Burkhardt FK, Hayer JJ, Heinemann C, Steinhoff-Wagner J. Effect of Climatic Condition, Type of Trough and Water Cleanliness on Drinking Behavior in Dairy Cows. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:257. [PMID: 38254426 PMCID: PMC10812700 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing ambient temperatures lead to higher water intake and higher risks of microbial growth in cattle troughs. This study aims to analyze drinking water quality and dairy cows' drinking behavior (n = 8081 drinking episodes) on a commercial farm with 135 and 144 lactating cows in two climatic conditions, considering trough type and cleanliness, respectively. Daily video recording was conducted at two trough types (two open troughs, 70 L; two-valve troughs, variable volume of 5-15 L) in the first two hours after feeding (n = 60 days in total) under cold (December 2019-February 2020) and warm ambient temperatures (September 2021). The trough cleaning scheme allowed cows to access either cleaned or uncleaned troughs in each system. Water quality was tested daily and analyzed at the beginning and end of the trials. In warmer ambient temperatures, fewer and-at uncleaned troughs and open troughs-shorter drinking episodes were recorded, with longer but fewer water intake periods, longer drinking breaks, and fewer sips (p < 0.0001). Considering the drinking episodes, respectively, water intake and drinking breaks in number and duration, the number of sips and the number of agonistic behaviors might optimize dairy cow water supply and hygiene management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Katharina Burkhardt
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany;
- Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; (J.J.H.); (C.H.)
| | - Jason Jeremia Hayer
- Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; (J.J.H.); (C.H.)
- Educational and Research Centre for Animal Husbandry Hofgut Neumuehle, 67728 Münchweiler an der Alsenz, Germany
| | - Céline Heinemann
- Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; (J.J.H.); (C.H.)
| | - Julia Steinhoff-Wagner
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany;
- HEF World Agricultural Systems Center, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
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Dressler EA, Shaffer W, Bruno K, Krehbiel CR, Calvo-Lorenzo M, Richards CJ, Place SE, DeSilva U, Kuehn LA, Weaber RL, Bormann JM, Rolf MM. Heritability and variance component estimation for feed and water intake behaviors of feedlot cattle. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad386. [PMID: 37967310 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Feed and water intake are two important aspects of cattle production that greatly impact the profitability, efficiency, and sustainability of producers. Feed and, to a lesser degree, water intake have been studied previously; however, there is little research on their associated animal behaviors and there is a lack of standardized phenotypes for these behaviors. Feed and water intakes obtained with an Insentec system (Hokofarm Group, The Netherlands) from 830 crossbred steers were used to compute five intake behaviors for both feed and water: daily sessions (DS), intake rate (IR), session size (SS), time per session (TS), and session interval (SI). Variance components and heritabilities were estimated for each trait. Heritabilities for feed intake behaviors were 0.50 ± 0.12, 0.63 ± 0.12, 0.40 ± 0.13, 0.35 ± 0.12, and 0.60 ± 0.12 for DS, IR, SS, TS, and SI, respectively. Heritabilities for water intake behaviors were 0.56 ± 0.11, 0.88 ± 0.07, 0.70 ± 0.11, 0.54 ± 0.12, and 0.80 ± 0.10 for NS, IR, SS, TS, and SI, respectively. Daily dry matter intake (DDMI) and daily water intake (DWI) had heritabilities of 0.57 ± 0.11 and 0.44 ± 0.11. Phenotypic correlations varied between pairs of traits (-0.83 to 0.82). Genetic correlations between DDMI and feed intake behaviors were moderate to high, while genetic correlations between DWI and water intake behaviors were low to moderate. Several significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were identified for the feed and water intake behaviors. Genes and previously reported quantitative trait loci near significant SNPs were evaluated. The results indicated that feed and water intake behaviors are influenced by genetic factors and are heritable, providing one additional route to evaluate or manipulate feed and water intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Dressler
- Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - William Shaffer
- Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Kelsey Bruno
- Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Clint R Krehbiel
- Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Michelle Calvo-Lorenzo
- Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Farm Animal Business, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN 46140, USA
| | - Chris J Richards
- Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Sara E Place
- Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Udaya DeSilva
- Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Larry A Kuehn
- USDA, ARS, Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933, USA
| | - Robert L Weaber
- Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Jennifer M Bormann
- Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Megan M Rolf
- Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
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Jensen MB, Vestergaard M. Invited review: Freedom from thirst-Do dairy cows and calves have sufficient access to drinking water? J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:11368-11385. [PMID: 34389150 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-20487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The importance of drinking water for production and animal welfare is widely recognized, but surveys and animal welfare assessment schemes suggest that many dairy calves and dairy cows do not have sufficient access. Limit milk-fed calves drink more water than calves fed milk ad libitum, but ad libitum milk-fed calves also require access to drinking water, as milk does not meet the animal's requirement for water. At hot ambient temperatures and when calves are sick, access to water is especially important and should be provided at all times. Many young calves do not have access to water throughout 24 h, and whether healthy young calves require free access to water at all times, or from which age, is not clear and requires further study. Dairy cow free water intake (FWI) is largely determined by milk yield, and high-yielding dairy cows may drink up 100 L of water per day. Dry matter, crude protein, and salt content of feed, as well as ambient temperature, have considerable effects on dairy cow water intake. Deprivation of water affects meal patterning for the cow, as well as increased subsequent rate of drinking and compensatory water intake. Although dairy cow ad libitum water intake may exceed the water provision necessary to maintain production, offering water for ad libitum intake may be necessary to safe guard animal welfare. Cattle are suction drinkers that prefer to drink from large open water surfaces, and Holstein dairy cows can drink at a rate of up to 24 L/min. Research on the effect of design and placement of water troughs for indoor-housed dairy cows on their drinking behavior and water intake is limited. Access to a water source at pasture increases the time cows spend there, and access to shade reduces water requirements during periods of warm weather. In both indoor and pastured cattle, there is a lack of knowledge about the effect of stocking of water troughs on competition, drinking behavior, and intake in dairy cows. Studies on the effect of available water trough length and placement, and of the number of cows being able to drink from the same trough of a given dimension, are needed to evaluate current recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margit Bak Jensen
- Aarhus University, Department of Animal Science, Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.
| | - Mogens Vestergaard
- Aarhus University, Department of Animal Science, Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark; SEGES, Livestock Innovation, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
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Bica GS, Pinheiro Machado Filho LC, Teixeira DL. Beef Cattle on Pasture Have Better Performance When Supplied With Water Trough Than Pond. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:616904. [PMID: 33996957 PMCID: PMC8116948 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.616904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The behavior and performance of steers on pasture regarding water availability in troughs or in ponds were compared. Eight paddocks were randomly allocated to one treatment: POND (~30 m of diameter) or TROUGH (water trough, 120 cm diameter and 60 cm high and 500 L capacity). Eight groups of six beef steers were randomly assigned to one of the paddocks. The first 10 days were considered for animal habituation. Animals were individually weighed (days 0, 30, 60, and 90). Beginning in the day after each weighing on days 30 (Month 1), 60 (Month 2), and 90 (Month 3), behavior and animal distribution in the paddock were recorded by direct visual observation in three periods of 4 consecutive days. Water temperature and fecal and herbage DM were also recorded in these periods. Water intake was measured during 16 random days in the troughs. Data were analyzed using Generalized Linear Mixed Models, with treatment and period as fixed effects. TROUGH steers gained more weight (0.44 vs. 0.34 kg/day/animal; P ≤ 0.007) during the experiment and were heavier than the others at the end of the study (P ≤ 0.05). POND steers spent more time drinking water, but TROUGH steers increased the number of drinking events throughout the study (P ≤ 0.05), suggesting an adaptation for the new type of water source. Both treatments increased grazing time throughout the study, but not ruminating time (P ≤ 0.05). Walking time differed between treatments in all periods of behavior observation (P ≤ 0.05). Events of animal licking and ingesting salt of POND steers reduced throughout the study (P ≤ 0.05). The number of drinking events of TROUGH steers increased throughout the study, and drinking events were longer for POND steers than TROUGH steers (P ≤ 0.05). TROUGH steers spent more time on pasture on Month 2 (P ≤ 0.05). Period collection did not affect the water intake of TROUGH treatment (P > 0.05). This study demonstrates that water available in troughs rather than ponds for steers on pasture has positive effects on their weight gain and affects cattle behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Schenato Bica
- Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho
- Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Dayane Lemos Teixeira
- Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
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Welfare Assessment on Pasture: A Review on Animal-Based Measures for Ruminants. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10040609. [PMID: 32252331 PMCID: PMC7222824 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Welfare assessment in outdoor and extensive systems has rarely been investigated, and little is known about the most appropriate indicators. This study aimed at compiling a list of animal-based measures of welfare for domestic ruminants raised on outdoor/extensive systems by means of a systematic review. Out of 810 papers retrieved, 52 matched the inclusion criteria and went through an in-depth analysis. According to available literature, 45 indicators have been used to assess welfare on pasture, often following different methodologies. Most indicators were measured by observers even if the use of sensor technologies increased in recent years. Considering the growing interest in pasture-based or grass-fed products, it is suggested that welfare assessment in outdoor/extensive farming systems is carried out by following shared methodologies in order to provide evidence of the higher animal welfare claims that these products often imply compared to indoor systems. Abstract Outdoor and extensive farming systems allow animals to behave in a natural way and are often perceived as welfare friendly. Nonetheless, the natural environment poses multiple challenges to the welfare of animals, sometimes hampering their capacity to cope. Welfare assessment in outdoor and extensive systems has been rarely investigated, and little is known about the most appropriate indicators. The aim of this review was to identify animal-based measures of welfare to apply in extensive and pasture-based systems in domestic ruminants. Through the use of a dedicated software for systematic reviews, 810 papers were screened and a total of 52 papers were retained for in-depth analysis. ABM resulting from these papers were initially divided according to the species (cattle and small ruminants, including sheep and goats) and then to four principles: comfort, behavior, feeding and health. The results showed that welfare data were collected applying different methodologies, with an increasing use of sensors in recent years. The need to herd and restrain animals for individual data collection is one of the major constraints to data collection in extensive farming systems. It is suggested that welfare assessment in outdoor/extensive farming systems is carried out by following shared procedures in order to provide evidence of the higher animal welfare claims that these products often imply compared to indoor systems.
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Williams LR, Bishop-Hurley GJ, Anderson AE, Swain DL. Application of accelerometers to record drinking behaviour of beef cattle. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1071/an17052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Accelerometers have been used to record many cattle postures and behaviours including standing, lying, walking, grazing and ruminating but not cattle drinking behaviour. This study explores whether neck-mounted triaxial accelerometers can identify drinking and whether head-neck position and activity can be used to record drinking. Over three consecutive days, data were collected from 12 yearling Brahman cattle each fitted with a collar containing an accelerometer. Each day the cattle were herded into a small yard containing a water trough and allowed 5 min to drink. Drinking, standing (head up), walking and standing (head down) were recorded. Examination of the accelerometer data showed that drinking events were characterised by a unique signature compared with the other behaviours. A linear mixed-effects model identified two variables that reflected differences in head-neck position and activity between drinking and the other behaviours: mean of the z- (front-to-back) axis and variance of the x- (vertical) axis (P < 0.05). Threshold values, derived from Kernel density plots, were applied to classify drinking from the other behaviours using these two variables. The method accurately classified drinking from standing (head up) with 100% accuracy, from walking with 92% accuracy and from standing (head down) with 79% accuracy. The study shows that accelerometers have the potential to record cattle drinking behaviour. Further development of a classification method for drinking is required to allow accelerometer-derived data to be used to improve our understanding of cattle drinking behaviour and ensure that their water intake needs are met.
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Lemos Teixeira D, Hötzel MJ, Pinheiro Machado Filho LC, Cazale JD, Enríquez-Hidalgo D. Designing Better Water Troughs: Does Trough Color Influence Dairy Cows' Preference? J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2017; 20:192-197. [PMID: 28375755 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2017.1283621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Eighteen lactating dairy cows were used to elucidate their preference for green, grey, or red troughs. The herd was managed under a rotational grazing system with ad-libitum access to water until 11:30 h. For 9 days, all cows were tested individually following the afternoon milking. Cows drank similar quantities, spent a similar amount of time drinking, and took a similar number of sips from the 3 trough colors (p > .05). In 75% of the tests, cows drank more than 95% of the test period from the same trough. Within this time, the percentage of choices did not differ among colors (33.3% green, 39.0% grey, and 27.7% red). When they chose the red trough, cows spent less time drinking (p ≤ .05) and tended to take fewer sips (p = .07), which could suggest a partial aversion to this color. Suboptimal water trough design may have long-term negative effects on both the production and welfare of dairy cattle; however, the results suggest that color does not play a major role in the drinking behavior of dairy cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayane Lemos Teixeira
- a Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural , Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina , Florianópolis , Brazil.,b Departamento de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile
| | - Maria José Hötzel
- a Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural , Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina , Florianópolis , Brazil
| | - Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho
- a Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural , Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina , Florianópolis , Brazil
| | | | - Daniel Enríquez-Hidalgo
- a Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural , Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina , Florianópolis , Brazil.,b Departamento de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile
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Williams LR, Jackson EL, Bishop-Hurley GJ, Swain DL. Drinking frequency effects on the performance of cattle: a systematic review. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2016; 101:1076-1092. [DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. R. Williams
- School of Medical and Applied Sciences; CQUniversity; North Rockhampton Qld Australia
| | - E. L. Jackson
- School of Medical and Applied Sciences; CQUniversity; Gladstone Qld Australia
| | - G. J. Bishop-Hurley
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); St Lucia Qld Australia
| | - D. L. Swain
- School of Medical and Applied Sciences; CQUniversity; North Rockhampton Qld Australia
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Ratnakaran AP, Sejian V, Jose VS, Vaswani S, Bagath M, Krishnan G, Beena V, Devi PI, Varma G, Bhatta R. Behavioral Responses to Livestock Adaptation to Heat Stress
Challenges. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.3923/ajas.2017.1.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Lardner H, Braul L, Schwartzkopf-Genswein K, Schwean-Lardner K, Damiran D, Darambazar E. Consumption and drinking behavior of beef cattle offered a choice of several water types. Livest Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2013.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Coimbra PAD, Machado Filho LCP, Hötzel MJ. Effects of social dominance, water trough location and shade availability on drinking behaviour of cows on pasture. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2012.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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