Helen R. Fielding , Matthew J. Silk , Trevelyan J. McKinley , Richard J. Delahay , Jared K. Wilson-Aggarwal , Laetitia Gauvin , Laura Ozella , Ciro Cattuto , Robbie A. McDonald
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The social environment experienced by livestock can have implications for their health, welfare, and subsequently, their productivity. Changes in the dairy industry have led to larger herd sizes and altered management of cows, which has impacted their social environment. Studies have shown that mixing of animals can lead to social instability of groups and expansion of herds can lead to high stocking densities resulting in social stress and negative effects on production. Yet few studies have assessed the putative impact of positive cow-cow interactions, such as proximity to preferred herd mates and engaging in grooming, on milk production and udder health. To address this, we used cattle proximity as a proxy for affiliative interactions between cows in three dairy herds in south-west England over one week study periods. We created proximity networks of dairy cows and measured cow-cow associations according to milk yield, somatic cell count (SCC; an indicator of mastitis), parity (number of lactations in the cow’s lifetime), and lactation stage (grouped by days in milk for current lactation). We then assessed associations between social factors and production and health measures (milk yield and SCC). In all three herds, cows interacted more with cows in the same parity, suggesting early social bonding may be evident later in life and that grouping animals in terms of parity might encourage affiliative interactions. Cows did not associate according to milk yield, SCC, or lactation stage. There was no significant association between milk production or SCC and the total time spent in social contact with other cows, the mean time spent with the four closest herd mates, or the number of closest herd mates of the same parity. We suggest that further research on positive social environments for dairy cattle is warranted in the interests of improving welfare and enabling a more robust assessment of the putative effects on production and health parameters
期刊介绍:
This journal publishes relevant information on the behaviour of domesticated and utilized animals.
Topics covered include:
-Behaviour of farm, zoo and laboratory animals in relation to animal management and welfare
-Behaviour of companion animals in relation to behavioural problems, for example, in relation to the training of dogs for different purposes, in relation to behavioural problems
-Studies of the behaviour of wild animals when these studies are relevant from an applied perspective, for example in relation to wildlife management, pest management or nature conservation
-Methodological studies within relevant fields
The principal subjects are farm, companion and laboratory animals, including, of course, poultry. The journal also deals with the following animal subjects:
-Those involved in any farming system, e.g. deer, rabbits and fur-bearing animals
-Those in ANY form of confinement, e.g. zoos, safari parks and other forms of display
-Feral animals, and any animal species which impinge on farming operations, e.g. as causes of loss or damage
-Species used for hunting, recreation etc. may also be considered as acceptable subjects in some instances
-Laboratory animals, if the material relates to their behavioural requirements