Improvements in the behaviour of Gir dairy cows after training with brushing

Autor: Aska Ujita, Rogério Ribeiro Vicentini, Maria Lucia Pereira Lima, João Alberto Negrão, Leonardo de Oliveira Fernandes, André Penido Oliveira, Renata Veroneze, Lenira El Faro Zadra
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Applied Animal Research, Vol 48, Iss 1, Pp 184-191 (2020)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 0971-2119
0974-1844
09712119
DOI: 10.1080/09712119.2020.1754217
Popis: The cow’s behaviour and temperament influence handling and productivity. Training including tactile stimuli can improve zebu cow behaviour. The aim of the study was to utilize tactile stimulation training in Gir dairy cows during 14 days and measure cow behaviour. A total of 27 cows were brushed in a squeeze chute. Behavioural parameters, respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) were evaluated. The temperature and humidity of the environment was recorded to calculate the temperature and humidity index (THI). The THI demonstrated that the environmental conditions did not induce thermal stress. All behavioural variables showed improvements with training over time. The ‘calm’ score increased throughout the training, corroborating the movement and displacement behavioural characteristics, regardless of the parturition order. Initially, 56.6% of the cows walked to exit a chute while others trotted or ran, and, at the end of the days of training, 96.0% of the cows exited the chute by walking. A decrease in the RT and RR was verified between the first to 7th and 14th day of training. Brushing training was effective in calming the animals and improving the interaction with humans, thereby enhancing the human animal relationship.
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