Dairy Cattle Behaviour

Question 1

Types of dairy facility designs

Answer 1

Tie-stall
Free-stall
Robotic farm

Question 2

What affects the order of what cow is milked first

Answer 2

Dominant cows enter parlour first
Highest yielding cows milked first because there is a higher reward to relieve pressure

Question 3

Cow behaviour before and during milking

Answer 3

Before = restless due to weight, fullness and udder pressure

After = settle and stand calmly, new cows more restless, may kick machine off

Question 4

What affects machine-on time

Answer 4

Manual stimulation = shorter machine-on time (higher milking efficiency), higher peak and average milk flow rates
Rough management increases machine-on time

Question 5

Day in the life of a dairy cow

Answer 5

12.5 hrs/day laying down and resting (milk production)
10 hrs/day eating, drinking, chewing cud, exercising and socializing
1.5 hrs/day in milking parlour

Question 6

Recommended time for a cow to spend walking

Answer 6

1 hr/day or at least 3 km/day prevents health problems

Question 7

How do cows lay down and stand up

Answer 7

Lay down = kneels down with one foreleg then other, tucks one hind limb under abdomen, lowers rear end
Stand up = pendulum (lunge forward)

Question 8

Why is rest important

Answer 8

Rumination
Hooves rest and dry off
Submissive cows can get resources when dominants resting
Blood circulation through udder increases up to 30%

Question 9

Movement of the bolus

Answer 9

Once chewed, moved by tongue to the esophagus and delivered to the rumen

Question 10

Why is saliva important

Answer 10

Mix saliva with feed to increase lubrication, chemical buffers, pre-digestive enzymes which help maintain rumen health

Question 11

how long do cows spent ruminating

Answer 11

6-8 hours per day (eight 45 minute bouts)

Question 12

What is sorting behaviour in cows

Answer 12

Using its nose, a cow will sort through its feed selecting for higher concentrated particles from a total mixed ration

Question 13

What is throwing food

Answer 13

Scoops feed into mouth then shovels the feed over its back
Could be due to restricting the normal head swinging, grazing motion

Question 14

How much water does a lactating cow drink per day. When does this peak

Answer 14

50 - 100 L/day
Peaks to 40% of intake one hour after milking

Question 15

Optimal water temperature

Answer 15

15-17 C

Question 16

What is true estrus

Answer 16

Standing heat (cow stands to be mounted by male or female)

Question 17

Ways of detecting estrus using behaviour

Answer 17

Tail chalk
Kamar patches
Pedometers (increased locomotion)
Activity monitors or SensOor (head movements)
Visual observations

Question 18

Detecting parturition through behaviour

Answer 18

iVet
Video monitor
Moocall (tail movement increases during parturition)

Question 19

Locomotion scores

Answer 19

1. Normal with flat back
2. Mildly lame
3. Moderately lame
4. Lame
5. Severely lame

Question 20

Estrous cycle? Length of estrus during that cycle?

Answer 20

21 days
Estrus is on average 14h

Question 21

Behaviour as cow is approaching parturition

Answer 21

Restless in stall, vocalizations, seeks isolation
Increased activity (walking, standing/lying)
Kicks fore feet at stomach
Decreased feet intake

Question 22

When are dairy calves usually separated from their mothers

Answer 22

Within 24h of calving
Later = stress to damn

Question 23

Social behaviour in calves

Answer 23

Licking, smelling, playing, jumping
Games with aggressive elements (e.g. play fighting)

Question 24

Resting behaviour influenced by…

Answer 24

Age, floor structure, health state

Question 25

Does social ranking of bulls influence sexual activity

Answer 25

Yes