-
About Qingfeng
-
-
-
Cow Habit and Comfort
Release time:
2020-07-20
What is the real comfort of cows? How to judge? How to use this technology to improve the profit margin of cattle breeding? Observation and experience show that cows kept in a comfortable environment produce more milk, and are usually healthier and live longer. Cows can't explain what makes them more comfortable. But we can determine whether the cow is comfortable by observing and weighing the cow's activities, habits and environment, combined with our judgment. This article will introduce the habits of cows, so that ranchers understand what the needs of cows are and how to create a comfortable environment for them.
What is the real comfort of cows? How to judge? How to use this technology to improve the profit margin of cattle breeding? Observation and experience show that cows kept in a comfortable environment produce more milk, and are usually healthier and live longer. Cows can't explain what makes them more comfortable. But we can determine whether the cow is comfortable by observing and weighing the cow's activities, habits and environment, combined with our judgment. This article will introduce the habits of cows, so that ranchers understand what the needs of cows are and how to create a comfortable environment for them.
Testing cow comfort means that let's go back in time and find out the natural habits of cows grazing on the grassland, and they will live according to the natural habits. When cows are moved to barns and pens, these natural habits are restricted. In order to judge the comfort level of a cow, the most important thing is to understand what natural behaviors the cow has. The closer her behavior in the cowshed is to her behavior in the natural state, the better for her and you. The following table is a simple daily time allocation for lactating cows.
Cows are gregarious animals and are subject to a great deal of stress when they are alone, for example, cows who stay alone in tethered sheds have been found to have an increase in milk white blood cells.
Cows are more sensitive to noise than humans. The ears of cows are most sensitive to high-frequency noise of 8000HZ, while people are most sensitive to noise of 1000HZ to 3000HZ. For this reason, cows are more sensitive than humans to, for example, frictional noise from metal products on metal. Intermittent and strange noises are particularly stressful for cows. Cows living in a quiet environment are more sensitive to noise than cows living in an unquiet environment. In a study in Texas, the ringing of the phone significantly increased the heart rate of calves on the ranch. Continuously playing music at normal volume helps cows tolerate unexpected noises.
Cows have a wide field of vision and can see objects around them at 300 °, but cows only have 3D vision of straight ahead. Only in this direction can they estimate the distance well. Blocking their view with solid barriers or doors can reduce stress during treatment. Cows can also see color, and when there is a sudden color change, the cow refuses to move forward. They recognize people by the color of their clothes. If you have to handle a cow and know that it will hurt her, dress in the right color and handle it in a special place, not in the barn or milk parlor.
The cow has her own escape area around her, and when other animals or people cross this area she will attack to resist, or integrate into the group or escape. The size of this area depends on the character of the cow. Calm cows need less space than restless cows. Young cows have more individual space than adult cows. In the life of a cow, there is little individual space needed when she gets used to humans and their living environment. As they grow older, they become higher in the group hierarchy, so they are no longer afraid of other cows.
All groups are divided into social status. The way to strive for status is usually shown as overhead, collision or evasion. Young cows in herds tend to be together and less aggressive with each other. Clustering strategy will affect the interaction of groups. Overcrowding usually increases the negative effects of group interactions. In our study, where feeding was restricted, competition was greater, with dominant cows eating 23% more feed than submissive cows.
Newly produced cattle, first-born cattle, and recently transferred cattle are often in a submissive position in the group. Larger cattle, older cattle and more senior cattle usually have the right to dominate. There is a dominant type of cow in every herd called a cow, and there may be more than one cow. The behavior of this cow is different from that of other companions. For example, when all the cows are far away from you, this cow is close to you. Many farmers don't know their "cows".
The interaction of groups can affect the time of feeding, the time of rumination and the amount of drinking water. The dominant cattle may have been obedient to the cattle in the forage trough of feeding, drinking and lying time. Newly produced cattle, first-born cattle and recently moved cattle are in a compliant position in the herd. Larger cattle, older cattle and cattle with more social experience are more dominant. Fresh feed just feeding or just milking the end of the group's interaction is the most intense. The interaction of groups is also a problem when the passage is narrow and it is difficult for cows to pass through.
The interaction of groups is part of natural behavior. But it is important for a good barn environment such as feeding space, space around water bowls or sinks, and sufficient beds for cows to rest. The interaction of well-conditioned cowshed groups had little effect on milk production. The more similar cows in a group, the fewer group problems. There are also fewer negative effects, such as:-Cows can easily and quickly enter and exit the dairy parlor-round-the-clock supply of rations-Cows in the herd are quite close.
Cows have a hobby of licking and being licked by their peers, and licking is a normal behavior. All social animals lick, but not all animals. Animals of similar rank licked each other more frequently than animals of different ranks. Communicative licking is often associated with a change in behavior such as before or after rest. Licking cows after being disturbed seems to calm them down. Cows need to brush each other, and if this need is not met because she is tethered, then this need will accumulate and enhance brushing behavior whenever possible.
Cows like to brush their bodies with a brush, which improves animal welfare by keeping them clean, busy and calm while increasing blood circulation. If there were no brushes they would brush through the feeding pens in the cattle beds and barns. This is not what we want because the cows may harm themselves or damage the barn facilities. The function of brushing is to remove feces, urine and parasites from the body to keep the skin and hair healthy.
The farmer expects to get a lot from his cows, so he has to produce a lot of milk, have one calf a year and have minimal health problems. However, you can compare cows to good athletes, and even the best competitors can't do well without good environment. If the cow's living environment is not the best, she cannot meet the expectations of the farmer. The farmer must create an environment where the cows are happy and comfortable, and comfortable and healthy cows will of course bring more profits to the ranch.
Share
Telephone:+86-0531-8712 3999 +86-151 6919 5199
Address of Marketing Department: Energy Saving Demonstration Building, Wolong Road, downtown Jinan City
Message feedback