RESEARCHES REGARDING RESTING BEHAVIOUR IN LACTATING DAIRY COWS DURING FIRST HUNDRED DAYS AFTER CALVING

Abstract

Choices in stabling and management affect the behavior, health, longevity and performance of cows. Resting behavior provides additional information about comfort and health. In the current study were used twenty Romanian Black and White multiparous cows, housed in a tie stall barn 24 hours per day. Experiments were carried out during winter and summer seasons, in February and June 2008. Cows monitored were in their first hundred days of lactation. In our study cows spent resting during winter season on average 379.9 minutes (6.33 hours), value that represents 26.38 % from the days interval. During cold season, cows spent resting while standing on average 277.40 minutes, and while lying recumbent, only 97.55 minutes. Time devoted to rest during summer season per 24 hours was on average 613.75 minutes (10.22 hours), value that represents 42.60% from the days interval. During summer, position adopted by cows for resting periods was as follows: 453.65 minutes in standing position and 160 minutes while lying recumbent. Differences registered between the two seasons for time spent resting and position adopted during resting periods, were very significantly statistically (p0.001).

Keywords

• resting behavior
• dairy cows
• romanian black and white