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Effects of stocking density during the dry period on dairy cow physiology, metabolism and behaviour

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2019

Mayumi Fujiwara ,
Marie Haskell ,
Alastair Macrae  and
Kenny Rutherford
Mayumi Fujiwara*
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour & Welfare team, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Research Group, Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, UK
Marie Haskell
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour & Welfare team, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Research Group, Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, UK
Alastair Macrae
Affiliation:
Dairy Herd Health and Productivity Service, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Kenny Rutherford
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour & Welfare team, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Research Group, Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Mayumi Fujiwara, Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The effects of high stocking density during the dry period on dairy cow physiology, behaviour and welfare were investigated. Holstein Friesian cows (n = 48, calving over a seven month period) were dried-off 60 ± 4 d before their expected calving date, and allocated to either high (H) or low (L) stocking density groups. Cows were housed in cubicles from dry-off to 21 d before calving and then moved to straw yards until calving. In cubicle pens, H and L cows had 0.5 vs. 1.0 feed yokes/cow and 1.0 vs. 1.5 cubicles/cow, respectively, and in straw yards, 0.3 m vs. 0.6 m linear feed-face space and 6 m2vs. 12 m2 lying space, respectively. Video observations of feeding behaviour during the 3 h after feed delivery (3 d/week) and agonistic interactions at the feed-face during peak feeding (2 d/week) were made. Daily lying proportion was measured using an accelerometer device throughout the dry period. Concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGCM) at dry-off, d7 and d35 after dry-off and d21 and d7 before calving and the change in energy metabolites (glucose, NEFA, BHB) from dry-off to d7 before calving were measured. H cows were less likely to start feeding within 5 min of feed delivery and spent less time feeding compared to L cows, but they engaged in displacements more frequently and spent more time standing in the feed alley. Irrespective of the treatment groups, FGCM concentrations significantly increased from dry-off to d7 after dry-off and remained higher during the dry period. Stocking density did not affect daily lying proportion, energy metabolites during the dry period and milk yield during subsequent lactation. This study found that whilst high stocking density during the dry period increased competition at the feed-face and altered feeding behaviour, it did not affect stress responses, energy metabolism or subsequent milk yield.

Keywords

Peripartum periodstocking densitywelfare
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 86 , Issue 3 , August 2019 , pp. 283 - 290
Copyright
Copyright © Hannah Dairy Research Foundation 2019 

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