Behaviour Management of Dairy Cows Flashcards
Describe wild cattle
How are cattle organised in dairy cow systems?
Standard grouping - All adult & All juvenile female groups
How do you know that cattle are prey animals that live in herds?
Describe dairy cow social behaviour in groups
What are the two different social interactions?
Affiliative or Agonistic
Give an example of dairy cows exhibiting agonistic interaction
Head-head pushing
Give an example of dairy cows exhibiting affiliative interaction
Social licking (allogrooming)
What are the problems that arise from a loose housing system?
What are the consequences of overstocking a loose housing system?
Why do we foot bathe cows?
What disinfectants is added to the foot-bath?
What are things you need to think of when designing your foot bath?
What don’t cows like?
What do cows like?
Why do cows need to lie down? (Cubicles)
Describe the social behaviour of cows + how that relates§ to resources
What is the consequences of overstocking of cubicles?
What bedding to cows prefer?
What could a cow be telling us if there are lesions on their knees or hocks?
What is a cow telling us if only their front feet are in the cubicle?
Cubicles may be too short or narrow
What is a cow telling us if they are dog sitting for several minutes before getting up?
May not be enough lunge for cow to exhibit normal rising behaviour - place a lunging bar in front of them to stop them from going too far to allow them to stand up smoothly
