Tactile, Auditory, and Visual Stimulation as Sensory Enrichment for Dairy Cattle
Daniel Mota-Rojas,
Alexandra L. Whittaker,
Adriana Domínguez-Oliva,
Ana C. Strappini,
Adolfo Álvarez-Macías,
Patricia Mora-Medina,
Marcelo Ghezzi,
Pamela Lendez,
Karina Lezama-García,
Temple Grandin
Affiliations
Daniel Mota-Rojas
Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico
Alexandra L. Whittaker
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Adelaide, SA 5116, Australia
Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico
Ana C. Strappini
Animal Health and Welfare Department, Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands
Adolfo Álvarez-Macías
Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico
Patricia Mora-Medina
Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlán 54714, Mexico
Marcelo Ghezzi
Anatomy Area, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (FCV), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina
Pamela Lendez
Anatomy Area, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (FCV), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina
Karina Lezama-García
Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico
Temple Grandin
Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
Several types of enrichment can be used to improve animal welfare. This review summarizes the literature on the use of mechanical brushes, tactile udder stimulation, music, and visual stimuli as enrichment methods for dairy cows. Mechanical brushes and tactile stimulation of the udder have been shown to have a positive effect on milk yield and overall behavioral repertoire, enhancing natural behavior. Classical music reduces stress levels and has similarly been associated with increased milk yield. A slow or moderate tempo (70 to 100 bpm) at frequencies below 70 dB is recommended to have this positive effect. Evidence on the impacts of other types of enrichment, such as visual stimulation through mirrors, pictures, and color lights, or the use of olfactory stimuli, is equivocal and requires further study.
