Effect of feeding duration and rumen fill on behaviour in dairy cows.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 2000 | No Comments

The feeding of dairy cows during the stable period is often accomplished within a rather short time, compared with the duration of eating and rumination among cows on pasture. In dairy cows restricted feeding may lead to significant increases in behavioural disturbances, such as stereotyped oral behaviours, compared with giving feed ad libitum. The aim of the present experiment was to test the hypothesis that oral manipulation of feed is a behavioural need in cattle, irrespective of actual rumen load. Twelve rumen fistulated cows were used and subjected to four different treatments: low rumen content+long duration of eating (A), high rumen content+short duration of eating (B), high rumen content+long duration of eating (=positive control) (C) and low rumen content+short duration of eating (=negative control) (D). To obtain treatment A and B, rumen content was transferred by hand from cow A to B through the rumen fistulaes. Each treatment lasted for 3 days with 2 weeks of recovery between each new treatment. This experiment was repeated twice during two consecutive years. All cows were fed the same mixture of silage, concentrate and hay. The cows were videotaped under normal conditions (24h), and on the third day of the experiment. From these videotapes, the behaviours (frequency and duration per 24 h) were analysed.Time spent eating differed significantly between the four treatments, with shortest eating-times in B and D. The cows with low rumen content (A and D) spent shorter time ruminating than the cows with filled rumen (B and C). The B and D cows (short duration of eating) spent longer time with behaviours related to feed-searching that the cows with long duration of eating (A and C). The C cows had fewer bouts of behaviours related to feed-searching than A, B and D cows. The time spent with stereotypies (tongue-rolling) was longer in D than in the other treatments. In conclusion, these results support the hypothesis that oral manipulation of feed is a behavioural need in cattle irrespective of rumen load. A low duration of feeding behaviours combined with a low rumen load, which is a common practice in certain categories of growing cattle or dry dairy cows, seriously impairs the welfare in cattle.

Aggression and social spacing in light horse (Equus caballus) mares and foals

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The aggression and spacing amongst light horse mares and their foals was examined while they were out at pasture. The mare-foal pairs were observed for approximately seven hours each day. The observations began when the foal was two months old and ended when the foals were approximately four months old. Observations of the foals continued until they were six months old. All occurrences of aggressive behaviour were recorded, along with the identity of those that were involved in the encounter. Aggression was also observed when the horses were fed supplemental grain. There were significant correlations between the rank of the mare with the rank of the foal (before and after weaning). There was also a significant correlation between rank and birth order, but this was only evident before weaning. The social relationships of the foals, along with their rank was not linked to their gender. The foals preferred to associate with the foals of the mares that their mother preferred to associate with both before and after weaning. As mares and foals increased in rank, so did the rate at which they would engage in aggressive encounters with other horses in the herd.

Green Electricity – The Way Forward?

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The production of electricity via anaerobic digestion and biogas is enjoying a renewed lease on life. M.A.V. nv is the company responsible for building a large scale biogas plant located in the port area of Gent, Belgium. The result of the process is a daily production of 30000 – 40000 m3 of biogas which has a gross energy content of 160 – 230 MWh. The biogas is used for the production of electricity, steam and hotwater. The plant produces about 40 tonnes per day of solid material, effectively fertilizer, in a granular form. The article also includes a testimonial from a Belgium farmer that is using this system .

Sustainable pig production – evaluation of different scenarios

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The goal of pig production is to produce pig meat to as low cost as possible, as the industry in
large is based on short time profit. However, consumers and society show a growing interest
in production methods and quality of products (A

BEHAVIOR OF DAIRY COWS IN RESPONSE TO DIFFERENT BARN COOLING SYSTEMS

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Dietary lysine requirements of heavy and light pigs weaned at 14 days of age

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Sask Research Shows Forage Yields Boosted by Hog Manure

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Recent work at the the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) indicate that manure injection into standing grassland can produce significant results. Plots of crested wheatgrass, smooth brome grass, and Russian wild rye were injected with three different manure application rates: low (3,300 gal/acre), medium (6,600 gal/acre) and heavy (13,200 gal/acre). Yields in in treated plots were two to four times greater than the control plot, with crested wheat grass experiencing the greatest increase. Application rates in year one had enough carry-over to year two, to produce higher yields relative to the control plots. Manure seems to genrate significant increase in forage yield, however forage quality analysis should be taken prior to feeding manure-fertilzed feed to animals.

Sulfur and Nitrogen Balances in Biofilters for Odorous Gas Emission Control

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Biofiltration is a promising technology for reducing odor and gas emission from livestock operations. Tqo important operating parameters in biofiltration – media mixture content (MC) and gas retention time (RT) were studied to determine there effcets on sulfur and nitrogen balances. Laboratoru experiments were carried out to determine S and N accumulations in and emissions from biofilters with various media (MC 30%, 40%, 50%) and RT (5, 10, 20sec). The biofilter media was a mixture of compost and wood chips. The media bed was .20m deep and 0.30m in diameter. Two trials were run. Results showed that 47% to 94% of the hydrogen sulfide and 25 to 90% of ammonia were removed by the biofilters. Removal efficiency varied with treatment. Biofilters with 50% MC and 20 sec RT had the highest removal efficiency for H2S and ammonia, with the average H2S removal rates of 92.8% in trial 1 and 94.2% in Trial 2. Average ammonia removal efficiencies of these biofilters were 90.3% in trial one and 75.8% in trial 2. N and S accumulation in the biofilter media was also affected by MC and RT.

Comparative Effectiveness of 5 Manure Pit Additives-Poster

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The relative effectiveness of 5 manure pit additives was studied using experimental procedures. American BioCalaysts, Pit Boss, Westbridge, Biozest and Viclout/Xcite were tested in commercial scale manure channels and outdoor simulated storage for two experiments. Odour thresholf varied from being 49% higher to 16% lower compared to untreated manure in the indoor phase.

Anaerobic Digestion: Holistic Bioprocessing of Animal Manures

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