Effects of Rubber Flooring on Feeding and Resting Behavior of Dairy Buffalo and Cows

Year 2019, Volume: 12 Issue: 4, 378 - 383, 31.12.2019

Eyüp Eren Gültepe İbrahim Sadi Çetingül , İsmail Bayram , Hesna Kandır Beytullah Kenar , Tuba Bülbül , Cangir Uyarlar , Ümit Özçınar

https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.582968

Abstract

This experiment evaluated the effects of rubber
laying surface on feeding and lying behavior kinetics of dairy buffaloes and
cows. Fifty-four Anatolian dairy buffalo (Bubalus
bubalis) and 18 Brown Swiss dairy cows were used in the experiment. The
animals group-housed in pens with concrete floor before the rubber flooring.
The behavior of the animals was recorded 24 hours for 15 days before and after
rubber flooring with a video camera system in the barn. Behavior data were
expressed as % of observed animal in pen per hour for each species. Lying down
behavior was assumed in a resting manner. The average number of buffaloes
laying down increased after rubber flooring while there was no effect on
resting behavior of the cows. The rubber
flooring had no effect on feeding behavior of cows. Unexpectedly, the percent of buffaloes displaying
feeding behavior decreased after rubber flooring. Results
suggested that water buffalo may have different responses to management and
housing strategies compared with the cows. However, further comparative studies
with individual animal data and wide-spread behavioral observations may support
a better understanding of behavioral response to modern intensive management
strategies in dairy buffaloes.

Keywords

Lying behavior, bedding, cow comfort, loose housing, water buffalo

Supporting Institution

Afyon Kocatepe University Scientific Research Projects Commission

Project Number

13.VF.ALTY.01

Thanks

The authors thank the staff of Afyon Kocatepe University Animal Teaching & Research Center (Afyonkarahisar, Turkey) for their assistance with this study. The study was totally funded by Afyon Kocatepe University Scientific Research Projects Commission (Project No. 13.VF.ALTY.01). The results were partially presented in ICVAS 2016. Afyon Kocatepe University Animal Care and Use Committee decided that this study did not require the approval of the ethics committee (Case No.49533702/100).

Sünger Altlık Uygulamasının Sütçü Mandalar ve İneklerde Beslenme ve Dinlenme Davranışları Üzerine Etkileri

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, sünger yataklık uygulamasının
sütçü mandalar ve süt ineklerinde beslenme ile yatma davranışı üzerine etkileri
değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmada 44 baş sütçü Anadolu manda melezi (Bubalus bubalis) ve 18 baş İsviçre
Esmeri süt ineği kullanılmıştır. Sünger altlık uygulamasından önce tüm hayvanlar
beton zeminde grup halinde serbest biçimde barındırılmıştır. Hayvanların
davranışları, sünger uygulamasının 15 gün önce ve sonrasında çiftlikte bulunan
kapalı devre kamera sistemi ile 24 saat kaydedilmiştir. Davranış verileri, her
bir hayvan türü için her bir padokta % /saat olarak ifade edilmiştir. Tüm yatma
davranış şekilleri, dinlenme davranışı olarak kabul edilmiştir. Sünger altlık uygulaması
sonrasında; mandalarda yatan hayvan sayısında artış görülürken, ineklerde
dinlenme davranışına altlık uygulamasının bir etkisi olmamıştır. Beklenmedik
şekilde, altlık uygulamasının ardından beslenme davranışı gösteren ortalama
manda sayısında düşüş görülmüştür. Elde edilen veriler, mandaların yönetim
stratejileri ve barınma konusundaki değişikliklere ineklerden daha farklı
tepkiler verebileceğini göstermiştir. Ancak bireysel hayvan verilerini içeren
ve daha geniş çaplı davranış gözlemlerinin olduğu çalışmalar, sütçü mandaların
modern entansif yönetim stratejilerine nasıl tepkiler oluşturabileceğinin anlaşılmasına
yardımcı olabilir.       

Keywords

Yatma davranışı, altlık, inek konforu, serbest sistem barındırma, manda

Project Number

13.VF.ALTY.01

References

• De Arcipreste, Mancera KF, Miguel-Pacheco GG, Galindo, F. Plasticity and consistency of lying and ruminating behaviors of heifers exposed to different cubicle availability: A glance at individuality. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2018; 205: 1-7.
• De Rosa G, Grasso F, Braghieri A, Bilancione A, Di Francia A, Napolitano F. Behavior and milk production of buffalo cows as affected by housing system. J Dairy Sci. 2009; 2: 907-912.
• Eicher SD, Lay DC Jr, Arthington JD, Schutz MM. Effects of rubber flooring during the first 2 lactations on production, locomotion, hoof health, immune functions, and stress. J Dairy Sci. 2013; 96: 3639-3651.
• FAO. Livestock and production database. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home; Access Date: 20.05.2019.
• Fisher AD, Verkerk GA, Morrow CJ, Matthews LR. The effects of feed restriction and lying deprivation on pituitaryadrenal axis regulation in lactating cows. Livest Prod Sci. 2002; 73: 255-263.
• Haley DB, Rushen J, de Passille AM. Behavioural indicators of cow comfort: activity and resting behaviour of dairy cows in two types of housing. Can J Anim Sci. 2000; 80: 257-263.
• Ito K, Weary DM, von Keyserlingk MA. Lying behavior: Assessing within- and between-herd variation in free-stall-housed dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2009; 92: 4412-4420.
• Jensen MB, Pedersen LJ, Munksgaard L. The effect of reward duration on demand functions of rest in dairy heifers and lying requirements as measured by demand functions. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2005; 90: 207-217.
• Krohn CC, Munksgaard L. Behaviour of dairy cows kept in extensive (loose housing/pasture) or intensive (tie-stall) environments. II. Lying and lying-down behaviour. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 1993; 37: 1-6.
• Munksgaard L, Lovendahl P. Effects of social and physical stressors on growth hormone levels in dairy cows. Can J Anim Sci. 1993;73: 847-853.
• Napolitano F, Pacelli C, Grasso F, Braghieri A, de Rosa G. The behaviour and welfare of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in modern dairy enterprises. Animal. 2013; 7: 1704-1713.
• Neave HW, Weary DM, von Keyserlingk MAG. Review: Individual variability in feeding behaviour of domesticated ruminants. Animal. 2018; 12: s419-s430.
• NRC. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle. 7th rev. ed., The National Academic Press, Washington DC, USA. 2001.
• Odyuo LT, Jana DN, Das N. Maintenance behaviour of Murrah buffalo under an intensive management system. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 1995; 45: 293-299.
• Rulquin H, Caudal JP. Effects of lying or standing on mammary blood flow and heart rate in dairy cows. Ann Zootech. 1992; 41:101.
• Salzano A, Licitra F, D’Onofrio N, Balestrieri ML, Limone A, Campanile G, D’Occhio MJ, Neglia G. Space allocation in intensive Mediterranean buffalo production influences the profile of functional biomolecules in milk and dairy products. J Dairy Sci. 2019; In Press doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(95)00573-B.
• Sindhu JS, Arora S. Buffalo Milk, In: Encyclopedia of Dairy Sciences, Ed; Fuquay JW, 2nd Ed., Elsevier Academic Press, MA, USA. 2011; pp. 503-511.
• Thomas CS, Nordstrom J, Svennersten-Sjaunja K, Wiktorsson H. Maintenance and milking behaviours of Murrah buffaloes during two feeding regimes. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2005; 91:261-276.
• Tripaldi C, De Rosa G, Grasso F, Terzano GM, Napolitano F. Housing system and welfare of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) cows. Anim Sci. 2004; 78: 477-483.
• Tucker CB, Weary DM, de Pasille AM, Campbell B, Rushen J. Flooring in front of the feed bunk affects feeding behavior and use of freestalls by dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2006; 89: 2065-2071.