JDS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 85 No. 1 51-59
© 2002 by American Dairy Science Association ®
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Phillips, C. J. C.
Right arrow Articles by Rind, M. I.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Phillips, C. J. C.
Right arrow Articles by Rind, M. I.

The Effects of Social Dominance on the Production and Behavior of Grazing Dairy Cows Offered Forage Supplements

C. J. C. Phillips 1 and M. I. Rind 2

1 Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB30ES, England, United Kingdom
2 School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL572UW, Wales, United Kingdom

We examined whether separating dominant and subordinate cows affected production or behavior, and the relationships between dominance and production measures, by using grazing cows, some of which were offered forage supplements. In experiment 1, 80 cows were allocated to either pasture only or pasture and a silage supplement offered indoors overnight. Dominance was principally related to body weight, but was also positively correlated with lactation number and negatively correlated with grazing time. In experiment 2, 72 spring-calving cows were classified as dominant or subordinate, on the basis of aggressive interactions, and were divided by two factors; i.e., dominant and subordinate cows grazed together or apart, and with or without a hay supplement, which was offered indoors for 75 min/d. Dominant cows produced more milk than subordinates, probably because of their faster pasture biting rate and hay chewing rate. The hay-supplemented dominant cows produced more milk when kept apart from subordinates, and both dominant and subordinate cows gained more weight and lay down for longer when kept apart. However, when no hay was offered, dominant cows produced more milk and had a faster pasture biting rate when grazed together with subordinates. Cows high in the dominance order were more likely to enter the parlor first, but not to begin grazing first. The results suggest that production can increase when dominant and subordinate cows that are offered forage in a competitive situation are separated, whereas there is no benefit in separating them if they are at pasture all day.

Key Words: dominance • subordinate • hay supplement • grazing

Submitted on October 20, 2000
Accepted on August 2, 2001




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J DAIRY SCIHome page
D. Val-Laillet, D. M. Veira, and M. A. G. von Keyserlingk
Short Communication: Dominance in Free-Stall-Housed Dairy Cattle Is Dependent upon Resource
J Dairy Sci, October 1, 2008; 91(10): 3922 - 3926.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
S. E. Speidel, R. M. Enns, and D. J. Garrick
Weaning weight inheritance in environments classified by maternal body weight change
J Anim Sci, March 1, 2007; 85(3): 610 - 617.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J DAIRY SCIHome page
C. J. C. Phillips, S. Llewellyn, and A. Claudia
Laterality in Bovine Behavior in an Extensive Partially Suckled Herd and an Intensive Dairy Herd
J Dairy Sci, October 1, 2003; 86(10): 3167 - 3173.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2002 by the American Dairy Science Association ®.