Differences in standing behavior between Jersey and Holstein dairy cows during the periparturient period

Jerseys are the second most popular breed in the US dairy industry, yet there are few studies that directly compare their behavior with Holsteins. The objective of this observational study was to describe differences in the standing behavior of healthy Jersey and Holstein dairy cows during the periparturient period. A total of 51 Jerseys (11 primiparous [PP] and 40 multiparous [MP]) and 36 Holsteins (8 PP, 28 MP) were used for this analysis. Data loggers that measured leg orientation were used to determine daily standing time (min/d), number of standing bouts (no./d), and standing bout duration for each cow from approximately 3 wk before until 4 wk after calving. Holstein and Jersey cows were commingled throughout the periparturient period and only healthy cows were included in the analysis. Overall, Jerseys had longer standing times and longer standing bout durations compared with Holsteins during the period before calving. On the day before calving, PP cows had longer standing times than MP cows, but there was no effect of breed on standing behavior during the calving period (d -1, 0, and +1 relative to calving). The number of standing bouts for all cows spiked on the day of calving, but this increase was greatest for the MP cows, regardless of breed. Primiparous cows had longer postpartum standing times compared with MP cows; however, PP Jerseys tended to have the longest daily standing times during the first 10 DIM. After calving, there were no breed differences in the number of standing bouts per day among MP cows; however, PP Jerseys had more standing bouts than PP Holsteins during this time. Understanding how Jersey and Holstein behaviors differ may offer insights into better management of Jerseys during the period around calving.

Magnitude of change in prepartum feed intake: estimations using multiple classes of predictors and associations with transition metabolism, health, and milk production

The objectives of this study were to identify factors associated with the relative change in prepartum dry matter intake (RCDMI) of 273 cows fed individually, evaluate the performance of linear models to estimate RCDMI using different classes of predictors, and characterize the implications of RCDMI to transition metabolism, health, and subsequent milk production. Two periods of interest were established. Period 1 comprised d -21 to -12 relative to calving, when DMI was stable. Period 2 comprised d -4 to -1, when average DMI was distinctly declined. The RCDMI from period 1 to 2 was calculated as a percentage value, which ranged from -75 to 15% and averaged -18.1% (±15.0). Season, parity, body fatness, body weight, milk production in the previous lactation and at dry-off, and length of dry period were associated with RCDMI and explained 11% of the variation in all cows, and 19% when only parous cows were considered. Performance of linear models to predict RCDMI was improved when data on rumination and physical activities and target blood metabolites were added. The adjusted R2 increased to values between 0.45 and 0.55, and selected models performed consistently in cross-validation analyses. To evaluate the implications of RCDMI, cows were ranked within parity according to RCDMI and classified into terciles as large decline (LD), moderate decline (MD), or small decline (SD). By design, DMI did not differ between tercile groups in period 1 (13.3 ± 0.2 kg/d), but differed substantially in period 2 (LD = 8.8; MD = 11.2; SD = 12.7 ± 0.2 kg/d), creating important differences in RCDMI among groups (LD = -33.8; MD = -16.2; SD = -3.4% ± 0.8%). At enrollment, cows in the LD and MD groups were heavier (LD = 788; MD = 775; SD = 750 ± 7 kg), and the proportion of cows with BCS >3.5 was higher in LD (LD = 63; MD = 47; SD = 38%). An interaction of group and time was observed for postpartum DMI, which started lower in LD than in SD cows, but equaled by the end of transition, and inverted at wk 13 and 14 after calving. Yields of energy-corrected milk were greater in LD than in SD cows, and both groups did not differ from MD (LD = 41.0; MD = 40.3; SD = 39.0 ± 0.5 kg/d). LD cows had decreased energy balance and greater concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, and aspartate aminotransferase in serum, and greater glutathione peroxidase activity in plasma than SD cows. Larger declines in prepartum DMI were also associated with increased risk for postpartum disease, although the associations were only weak to moderate. In conclusion, a large decline in prepartum DMI was associated with important adjustments in the energy metabolism and antioxidants activities, and greater milk production in the subsequent lactation. These findings indicate that feed intake decline close to parturition is likely a normal response to physiological adaptations at the onset of lactation when cows are fed at libitum.

Preference for feed bins shared with cows of the same or different parity and relationships with feeding behavior and feed efficiency

Our objectives were to (1) evaluate cows' preferences for visiting feed bins limited to either same- versus mixed-parity social interactions, depending on their parity; (2) examine the effect of parity and bin social dynamic type on competition behavior and feeding patterns, and (3) investigate cow-level relationships between feed bunk competition behavior, feeding patterns, and feed efficiency. Twenty-eight primiparous and 28 multiparous (2.4 ± 0.6 lactations) lactating Holstein cows (127.8 ± 30.1 and 145.3. ± 10.4 DIM, respectively) were housed in a freestall pen with 28 roughage intake control bins (2:1 stocking density). Each cow was assigned to 2 bins, including 1 shared with 3 other cows of the same parity (SM) and 1 with 3 cows of mixed parities (MX, 50% primiparous and 50% multiparous). Feed bunk competition was recorded via video in the first hour after morning feed delivery for 2 d, and feeding patterns were recorded from 24-h roughage intake control data. Residual feed intake was calculated as the difference between predicted and observed dry matter intake after accounting for known energy sinks. Based on the first visit to the feed bunk after fresh feed delivery, multiparous cows tended to prefer the MX bin compared with the SM one; cows showed no other overall preference for bin type based on number of visits. Over time, multiparous cows remained consistent in their magnitude of preference for visiting each bin type, but involvement in competition was not consistent over time. Primiparous cows tended to be involved in more total competitive contacts and ate faster at the SM bin compared with the MX one. Those primiparous cows who visited the SM bin more often within the first hour after morning feed delivery tended to be less feed efficient. Multiparous cows initiated more successful replacements after a displacement at the MX versus SM bin, with no difference in feeding patterns between bin types. Regardless of parity or bin type, visiting the bunk sooner after feed delivery was correlated with involvement in more competitive interactions and more time eating within the first 30 min. Consuming more feed during a longer first visit to the bunk after fresh feed delivery was correlated with being less feed efficient. Overall, when given the choice of feeding from bins shared with cows of the same or mixed parities at a 2:1 stocking density, primiparous cows showed differences in behavior between those bin types, with implications for feed efficiency; these effects are perhaps an unintended consequence of compensatory strategies to avoid direct competition with multiparous cows.

Breed differences in oral behaviors in feed-restricted dairy heifers

Holsteins and Jerseys, the 2 most prominent dairy breeds in the United States, differ in many regards. They have not been evaluated for differences in oral behavior performance, despite anecdotal evidence that Jerseys perform more abnormal behaviors than Holsteins. As abnormal behaviors can indicate compromised welfare, we evaluated whether breed differences existed in year-old heifers. Because many oral behaviors could be expressed in abnormal ways, we also sought to describe performance of a wide range of behaviors and whether these varied among individuals. We studied 42 pair-housed heifers (33 Holstein, 9 Jersey) at 12.8 ± 1.1 mo of age (mean ± SD) that were restricted to 50% of their ad libitum total mixed ration (TMR) intake for 2 d as part of a short-term feed challenge. Using continuous video recording from 0800 to 2000 h on the second day of feed restriction, we scored time spent performing tongue rolling, tongue flicking, self-grooming, allogrooming, intersucking, drinking urine, drinking water, and nonnutritive oral manipulation (NNOM) of rice hull bedding, the feed bin, or other pen fixtures. Eating TMR was recorded at 5-min intervals. We found that Jerseys spent more time tongue rolling (3.3% vs. 0.2% proportion of 12-h observations) and performing all types of NNOM than Holsteins (feed bin: 3.8% vs. 2.4%; bedding: 7.7% vs. 5.4%; other: 7.5% vs. 4.2%; total: 19.0% vs. 12.0%), and tended to spend more time tongue flicking (1.4% vs. 1.1%). Jerseys spent less time allogrooming than Holsteins (1.3% vs. 3.4%). There was no evidence of an effect of breed on self-grooming (2.0%), water drinking (1.0%), eating TMR (16.0%), or intersucking (0.06%). Urine drinking was performed by 9 total heifers and was not compared between breeds. All behaviors were highly variable across individuals, particularly tongue rolling and intersucking. Allogrooming was more variable than self-grooming, and each subcategory of NNOM was more variable than total NNOM. Outliers, or extreme performance of oral behaviors relative to the rest of our population, were present in most behaviors. Heifers who were outliers in one behavior were not consistently outliers in all. Overall, there are breed differences in many oral behaviors in a feed-restricted environment. Despite no difference in proportion of time spent eating, Jerseys often performed higher levels of potentially abnormal behaviors than Holsteins, though both breeds performed many oral behaviors, sometimes at extreme levels, that may indicate a concern.

Do you see the pattern? Make the most of sensor data in dairy cows

Sensors are increasingly being used to monitor animal behaviour. Data handling methods have, however, lagged behind the continuous data stream to some extent, often being limited to summarizing data into daily averages at group level. This research reflection presents our opinion of the neglected application of 24-h pattern analysis. Recent studies of dairy cow behaviour have demonstrated that additional ways of analysing data improve our understanding of animal behaviour and add value to data that were already retrieved. The terminology for the described 24-h patterns differs between these studies, making them difficult to compare. Thus, diurnal, circadian, daily, periodicity and 24-h pattern are all terms used to describe dairy cow activities over a 24-h period. Several studies have shown that the 24-h behavioural pattern at herd level is relatively consistent over time, and that with well-established management routines, a specific herd signature will be evident. However, within a herd, individual cows may have individual 24-h patterns with more or less variability. Recent studies suggest that deviations from herd and/or individual 24-h patterns can be used to describe cow robustness, as well as to predict disease. We strongly believe that individual and herd 24-h patterns provide a great deal of information about behaviour and that these patterns offer opportunity for more precise and timely health management and welfare monitoring.

The relationship between feed efficiency and behaviour differs between lactating Holstein and Jersey cows

In dairy production, high feed efficiency (FE) is important to reduce feed costs and negative impacts of milk production on the climate and environment, yet little is known about the relationship between FE, eating behaviour and activity. This research communication describes how cows differing in FE, expressed as daily energy corrected milk production per unit of feed intake, differed in eating behaviour and activity. We used data from a study of 253 lactations obtained from 97 Holstein and 91 Jersey cows milked in an automatic milking system. Automated feed troughs recorded feed intake behaviour and cows wore a sensor that recorded activity from 5 to 200 d in milk (DIM). We used a mixed linear model to estimate random solutions for individual cows for traits of steps, lying and eating behaviour and calculated their correlation with FE during four periods (5-35, 36-75, 76-120 and 121-200 DIM). Separate analyses were performed for each breed and period. We found that individual level correlations between FE and behaviour traits were stronger in Jersey than in Holstein cows. Eating rate correlated weakly negatively to FE in Holstein cows and more strongly so in Jersey cows, such that efficient Jerseys were slower eaters. The physical activity of Jersey cows was weakly and negatively correlated to FE, but this was not the case in Holstein cows. We conclude that eating rate was consistently negatively associated with FE throughout lactation for Jersey cows, but not for Holstein cows.

Effects of Different Bedding Materials on Production Performance, Lying Behavior and Welfare of Dairy Buffaloes

Different bedding materials have important effects on the behavioristics, production performance and welfare of buffalo. This study aimed to compare the effects of two bedding materials on lying behavior, production performance and animal welfare of dairy buffaloes. More than 40 multiparous lactating buffaloes were randomly divided into two groups, which were raised on fermented manure bedding (FMB) and chaff bedding (CB). The results showed that the application of FMB improved the lying behavior of buffaloes, the average daily lying time (ADLT) of buffaloes in FMB increased by 58 min compared to those in CB, with a significant difference (p < 0.05); the average daily standing time (ADST) decreased by 30 min, with a significant difference (p < 0.05); and the buffalo comfort index (BCI) increased, but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). The average daily milk yield of buffaloes in FMB increased by 5.78% compared to buffaloes in CB. The application of FMB improved the hygiene of buffaloes. The locomotion score and hock lesion score were not significantly different between the two groups and all buffaloes did not show moderate and severe lameness. The price of FMB was calculated to be 46% of CB, which greatly reduced the cost of bedding material. In summary, FMB has significantly improved the lying behavior, production performance and welfare of buffaloes and significantly reduce the cost of bedding material.

Factors Affecting Grazing and Rumination Behaviours of Dairy Cows in a Pasture-Based System in New Zealand

This study investigated the variation in daily time spent grazing and rumination in spring-calved grazing dairy cows (n = 162) of three breeds, Holstein-Friesian (HFR), Jersey (JE), and KiwiCross (KC) with different breeding worth index, and in different years of lactation (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th). The cows were managed through a rotational grazing system and milked once a day at 05:00 a.m. The cows grazed mainly pasture and received supplementary feeds depending on the season. Automated AfiCollar device continuously monitored and recorded grazing time and rumination time of the individual cows throughout the lactation period for three study years (Year-1, Year-2, Year-3) with 54 cows per year. A general linear mixed model fitted with breed × lactation year with days in milk (DIM), breeding worth (BW) index value, individual cow, season, and feed, and their interactions was performed in SAS. Variance partitioning was used to quantify the effect size of study factors and their interactions. Individual cows, DIM, and BW (except Year-3) had effects on grazing and rumination times throughout the study years. Grazing time and rumination time were different for different seasons due to varying supplementary feeds. Grazing time varied among breeds in Year-2 and Year-3, and among lactation years only in Year-1. Although rumination time differed among breeds in Year-3, it remained the same within different lactation years. Grazing time and rumination time had a negative relationship with each other, and their regression lines varied for different seasons. The total variance explained by the model in grazing time was 36-39%, mainly contributed by the individual cow (12-20%), season (5-12%), supplementary feed (2-6%), breed (1-5%), and lactation year (1-6%). The total variance explained in rumination was 40-41%, mainly contributed by the individual cow (16-24%), season (2-17%), supplementary feed (1-2%), breed (2-8%), and lactation year (~1%). These findings could contribute to improving the measures for feed resource management during different seasons over the lactation period for a mixed herd comprising JE, HFR and KC breeds in different years of lactation.

Evaluation of an Accelerometer-Based Device for Testing the Softness of Bedding Materials Used for Livestock

Lying is a high priority behavior for dairy cows. As the quality of cubicles can influence their lying time, the interest in finding objective methods to assess the quality of floors has increased substantially over recent decades. This study aimed to evaluate a technical device for measuring elastic properties of floors for the application to bedding materials for cows. Ten different floor types were used: horse manure, recycled manure solids, bark mulch, sand, sawdust, and three different rubber mats. Horse manure and bark mulch were additionally tested with chopped straw as a top layer. Two devices of the same kind and two examiners were available for performing comparative measurements. Regression analyses and an ANOVA were conducted to compare the devices, examiners, and different surfaces. Most of the floors differed significantly from each other. Sawdust was the softest material, followed by sand and recycled manure solids. The agreement between the devices (Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) > 0.99, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rS) = 0.99) and examiners (CCC = 0.99, rS = 0.99) was almost perfect. These findings indicate that this device can be used as a new method for assessing the softness of bedding materials for dairy cows objectively.

Effect of lameness on feeding behavior of zero grazed Jersey dairy cows

The dairy industry faces major challenges with high levels of lameness, in parallel to an increased consumer focus on animal welfare. This encourages farmers to consider more robust breeds, such as Jersey cows. As little is known about the behavior of this breed under loose housing conditions, the present study sought to describe the feeding behavior of lame and non-lame Jersey cows in different parities. Such breed-specific information of behavioral changes is needed for breed-specific herd management decisions and may contribute to identifying animals that are susceptible to developing lameness in the future, thus reducing impacts on the welfare and production of cows. Feeding data from 116 Danish Jersey cows were collected using automatic feeders, and lameness status was assessed by technicians every second week. The cows were kept in a loose housing system, with cubicles, a slatted concrete floor, and automatic milking robots. Eating time per visit and per day, the number of visits per day, and intervals between meals were analyzed using generalized linear mixed effects models. The effect of lameness was not significant for any variable. Primiparous Jersey cows had significantly longer eating times per day, shorter meal intervals, and a lower number of visits per day than older Jersey cows. Week in lactation affected the eating time per visit and per day, the number of visits, and between-meal intervals. In conclusion, we found no differences between lame and non-lame Jersey cows but between parities, which disagree with previous research on other breeds, suggesting that Jersey cows not just differ in size and looks but also in their behavioral reaction when lame. Although data from only one herd of a research center were used, this study has demonstrated the need for further research about breed-specific differences and their implications for the health and welfare of the animals.

Comparison of methods to predict feed intake and residual feed intake using behavioral and metabolite data in addition to classical performance variables

Predicting dry matter intake (DMI) and feed efficiency by leveraging the use of data streams available on farm could aid efforts to improve the feed efficiency of dairy cattle. Residual feed intake (RFI) is the difference between predicted and observed feed intake after accounting for body size, body weight change, and milk production, making it a valuable metric for feed efficiency research. Our objective was to develop and evaluate DMI and RFI prediction models using multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least squares regression, artificial neural networks, and stacked ensembles using different combinations of cow descriptive, performance, sensor-derived behavioral (SMARTBOW; Zoetis), and blood metabolite data. Data were collected from mid-lactation Holstein cows (n = 124; 102 multiparous, 22 primiparous) split equally between 2 replicates of 45-d duration with ad libitum access to feed. Within each predictive approach, 4 data streams were added in sequence: dataset M (week of lactation, parity, milk yield, and milk components), dataset MB (dataset M plus body condition score and metabolic body weight), dataset MBS (dataset MB plus sensor-derived behavioral variables), and dataset MBSP (dataset MBS plus physiological blood metabolites). The combination of 4 datasets and 4 analytical approaches resulted in 16 analyses of DMI and RFI, using variables averaged within cow across the study period. Additional models using weekly averaged data within cow and study were built using all predictive approaches for datasets M, MB, and MBS. Model performance was assessed using the coefficient of determination, concordance correlation coefficient, and root mean square error of prediction. Predictive models of DMI performed similarly across all approaches, and models using dataset MBS had the greatest model performance. The best approach-dataset combination was MLR-dataset MBS, although several models performed similarly. Weekly DMI models had the greatest performance with MLR and partial least squares regression approaches. Dataset MBS models had incrementally better performance than datasets MB and M. Within each approach-dataset combination, models with DMI averaged over the study period had slightly greater model performance than DMI averaged weekly. Predictive performance of all RFI models was poor, but slight improvements when using MLR applied to dataset MBS suggest that rumination and activity behaviors may explain some of the variation in RFI. Overall, similar performance of MLR, compared with machine learning techniques, indicates MLR may be sufficient to predict DMI. The improvement in model performance with each additional data stream supports the idea of integrating data streams to improve model predictions and farm management decisions.

Influence of industry standard feeding frequencies on behavioral patterns and rumen and fecal bacterial communities in Holstein and Jersey cows

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of feeding frequency on behavioral patterns and on diurnal fermentation and bacteriome profiles of the rumen and feces in Holstein and Jersey cows. Ten Holstein and 10 Jersey cows were offered a TMR (53:47 forage-to-concentrate ratio dry matter basis) for ad libitum consumption and were randomly allocated within breed to one of the following feeding frequencies: (1) TMR delivered 1×/d (at 0600 h) or (2) TMR delivered 2×/d (at 0600 and 1800 h). The experiment lasted for 28 d with the first 14 d for cow adaptation to the Calan gates and the next 14 d for data collection. On d 23 and 24, an observer manually recorded the time budget (time spent lying, eating, drinking, standing, and milking), rumination activity, and number of visits to the feeding gate from each animal. On d 28, 5 concomitant collections of rumen and fecal samples were performed at intervals of 6 h via esophageal tubing and fecal grab, respectively. The bacteriome composition from these samples was determined through sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Feeding frequency did not affect behavioral patterns; however, Holstein cows spend more time lying (15.4 vs. 13.5 ± 0.8 h) and ruminating (401 vs. 331 ± 17.5 min) than Jersey cows. Fermentation profiles were similar by feeding frequency in both breeds. While no major diurnal fluctuations were observed in the fecal bacterial community from both breeds, diurnal fluctuations were identified in the rumen bacterial community from Holstein cows which appeared to follow pH responses. Overall, the bacterial community composition was not differentiated by industry standard feeding frequencies but was differentiated by breed and sample type.

Relating Lying Behavior With Climate, Body Condition Score, and Milk Production in Dairy Cows

Attention on animal behavior and welfare has been increasing. Scientific knowledge about the effect of behavior and welfare on animals' production augmented and made clear the need of improving their living conditions. Among the variables to monitor in dairy cattle farming, lying time represents a signal for health and welfare status as well as for milk production. The aim of this study is to identify the relationship among the lying behavior of dairy cows and milk production, body condition score (BCS), weather variables, and the temperature–humidity index (THI) in the barn from a dairy farm located in Northern Italy. One-year data were collected on this farm with sensors that allowed monitoring of the environmental conditions in the barn and the activity of primiparous lactating cows. Principal components analysis (PCA), factor analysis (FA), generalized linear model select (GLMSelect), and logistic analysis (LA) were carried out to get the relationships among variables. Among the main results, it emerges that the effect of weather parameters is quite restrained, except for THI > 70, which negatively affects the lying time. In addition, the most productive cows are found to lie down more than the less productive ones, and the parameters of milk production, lying time, and BCS are found to be linked by a similar trend.

Invited review: Lying time and the welfare of dairy cows

Adequate time lying down is often considered an important aspect of dairy cow welfare. We examine what is known about cows' motivation to lie down and the consequences for health and other indicators of biological function when this behavior is thwarted. We review the environmental and animal-based factors that affect lying time in the context of animal welfare. Our objective is to review the research into the time that dairy cows spend lying down and to critically examine the evidence for the link with animal welfare. Cows can be highly motivated to lie down. They show rebound lying behavior after periods of forced standing and will sacrifice other activities, such as feeding, to lie down for an adequate amount of time. They will work, by pushing levers or weighted gates, to lie down and show possible indicators of frustration when lying behavior is thwarted. Some evidence suggests that risk of lameness is increased in environments that provide unfavorable conditions for cows to lie down and where cows are forced to stand. Lameness itself can result in longer lying times, whereas mastitis reduces it. Cow-based factors such as reproductive status, age, and milk production influence lying time, but the welfare implications of these differences are unknown. Lower lying times are reported in pasture-based systems, dry lots, and bedded packs (9 h/d) compared with tiestalls and freestalls (10 to 12 h/d) in cross-farm research. Unfavorable conditions, including too few lying stalls for the number of cows, hard or wet lying surfaces, inadequate bedding, stalls that are too small or poorly designed, heat, and rain all reduce lying time. Time constraints, such as feeding or milking, can influence lying time. However, more information is needed about the implications of mediating factors such as the effect of the standing surface (concrete, pasture, or other surfaces) and cow behavior while standing (e.g., being restrained, walking, grazing) to understand the effect of low lying times on animal welfare. Many factors contribute to the difficulty of finding a valid threshold for daily lying time to use in the assessment of animal welfare. Although higher lying times often correspond with cow comfort, and lower lying times are seen in unfavorable conditions, exceptions occur, namely when cows lie down for longer because of disease or when they spend more time standing because of estrus or parturition, or to engage in other behaviors. In conclusion, lying behavior is important to dairy cattle, but caution and a full understanding of the context and the character of the animals in question is needed before drawing firm conclusions about animal welfare from measures of lying time.