The aims of this study was as follows: • to assess dairy buffaloes consistency of the entrance order and side preference on the milking parlour; • to study the effect of pre-partum milking habituation on behaviour and milk production and milk-flow profile of buffalo heifers ; • investigate the stability of the milking order of cows entering into the milking parlour of a commercial dairy herd; • to evaluate changes in milking order consequent to a change in health status . It is concluded that: • Dairy buffaloes express strong consistency in their order of entry into the milking parlour. The majority of the animals expressed a side preference and most animals showing preference were milked on 100% of occasions on the preferred side. Such a strong consistency is likely to be related to a strong motivation to satisfy their behavioural needs. Handling practices disturbing behaviour at milking (e.g. forced modification of entrance order, unavailability of the preferred side or stall) should be avoided to minimize animal stress and maximize farming profits, particularly in dairy buffaloes, which seem more sensitive than other dairy animals to changes in the milking routine. • Buffalo heifers exposed to a pre-partum habituation programme performed fewer steps and kicks than control animals during milking. It can be concluded that pre-partum habituation in the milking parlour can reduce the level of restlessness in buffalo heifers during milking in early lactation. Pre-partum habituation did not affect milk flow profiles, milk yield nor the milk quality of buffalo heifers. • In dairy cows consistent entrance order into the milking parlour was found. Within a single milking session the milking order was quite variable, but it was stable within the different feeding groups of the herd. • Cows with mastitis stayed behind in the milking order compared to their previous position, which permits the assumption that the automatic monitoring of milking order could be an effective and low-cost way to indicate the presence of sub-clinical disease in an individual animal, and to discover such a problem at an early stage. Therefore, the regular monitoring of milking order position of cows could be a useful management tool for large loose housing herds .
Management and animal effects on the behaviour of lactating dairy buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and cows (Bos taurus) when entering the milking parlour / Arney, David; DE ROSA, Giuseppe. - (2016).
Management and animal effects on the behaviour of lactating dairy buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and cows (Bos taurus) when entering the milking parlour
DE ROSA, GIUSEPPE
2016
Abstract
The aims of this study was as follows: • to assess dairy buffaloes consistency of the entrance order and side preference on the milking parlour; • to study the effect of pre-partum milking habituation on behaviour and milk production and milk-flow profile of buffalo heifers ; • investigate the stability of the milking order of cows entering into the milking parlour of a commercial dairy herd; • to evaluate changes in milking order consequent to a change in health status . It is concluded that: • Dairy buffaloes express strong consistency in their order of entry into the milking parlour. The majority of the animals expressed a side preference and most animals showing preference were milked on 100% of occasions on the preferred side. Such a strong consistency is likely to be related to a strong motivation to satisfy their behavioural needs. Handling practices disturbing behaviour at milking (e.g. forced modification of entrance order, unavailability of the preferred side or stall) should be avoided to minimize animal stress and maximize farming profits, particularly in dairy buffaloes, which seem more sensitive than other dairy animals to changes in the milking routine. • Buffalo heifers exposed to a pre-partum habituation programme performed fewer steps and kicks than control animals during milking. It can be concluded that pre-partum habituation in the milking parlour can reduce the level of restlessness in buffalo heifers during milking in early lactation. Pre-partum habituation did not affect milk flow profiles, milk yield nor the milk quality of buffalo heifers. • In dairy cows consistent entrance order into the milking parlour was found. Within a single milking session the milking order was quite variable, but it was stable within the different feeding groups of the herd. • Cows with mastitis stayed behind in the milking order compared to their previous position, which permits the assumption that the automatic monitoring of milking order could be an effective and low-cost way to indicate the presence of sub-clinical disease in an individual animal, and to discover such a problem at an early stage. Therefore, the regular monitoring of milking order position of cows could be a useful management tool for large loose housing herds .I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
