University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Birte Kristin Hauschild
(2012):
Evaluierung von Indikatoren des Ruheverhaltens von Milchkühen in Liegeboxen-Laufställen für die Anwendung im On-Farm Welfare Assessment.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Nutztierwissenschaften (NUWI),
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 74.
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- The aim of this study was to evaluate indicators of cubicle-housed dairy cow’s resting behaviour for application in on-farm welfare assessment. Different stages of lying down movements, three indices of resting behaviour and the evaluation of induced rising events (by means of a scoring scheme) were tested with regard to feasibility and validity during one-day visits on 17 Austrian dairy farms (average herd size 33 cows). All observations were carried out by the same observer and data were analysed at herd level using general linear models, Spearman rank correlations and Chi²-tests. The duration of the different stages of lying down movement (2 feet in lying area, 4 feet in lying area, carpal phase and intention behaviour) was continuously recorded in segments of the barn during 2 to 2.5 hours after the morning milking. On some farms, only a small amount of complete lying down movements could be recorded. The different lying down stages were only poorly correlated (rs=0.09-0.29). Farms differed significantly regarding 4-feet-phase (p=0.002) and carpal phase (p=0.001), but not regarding 2-feet-phase and duration of intention behaviours. Indices of resting (CCI, SSI, and SUI) were evaluated on every farm by means of five to seven herd scans. Correlations between CCI and SSI were very high (rs=-0.97). SUI was less correlated with CCI (rs=0.62) and SSI (rs =-0.59) and differentiated more between different farms. Rising behaviour was scored for on average 20 animals. The rising score was affected by lameness (p=0.005) and lactation number (p=0.007), but not by stage of lactation. Cows that could not be motivated to stand up did not differ from other cows regarding lameness, lactation number and stage of lactation.
- Beurteilende(r): Winckler Christoph