| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada
Corresponding author: T. J. DeVries; e-mail: trevorjd{at}interchange.ubc.ca.
The objectives of this study were to determine whether doubling the amount of feeding space from 0.5 to 1.0 m per cow leads to increased spacing between cows at the feeder, fewer aggressive social interactions among cows, and ultimately increased feeding activity. Twenty-four lactating Holstein cows were provided with 0.5 and 1.0 m of feeding space per cow in a 2 x 2 crossover design replicated over time. Time-lapse video was used to quantify the inter-cow distance and incidence of aggressive displacements at the feed alley. An electronic feed alley monitoring system was used to monitor the feeding behavior of the cows. When animals had access to 1.0 m per cow, there was at least 60% more space between animals and 57% fewer aggressive interactions while feeding than with access to 0.5 m of feeding space. These changes in spacing and aggressive behavior in turn allowed cows to increase feeding activity throughout the day, especially during the 90 min after providing fresh feed (an increase of 24%). This increase in feeding activity was particularly evident for subordinate cows. These results indicate that increasing space allowance at the feeder increases feeding activity and reduces competition among lactating dairy cows.
Key Words: feeding space • feeding behavior • dairy cow
Abbreviation key: PF = postfeeding
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  K. L. Proudfoot, D. M. Veira, D. M. Weary, and M. A. G. von Keyserlingk Competition at the feed bunk changes the feeding, standing, and social behavior of transition dairy cows J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2009; 92(7): 3116 - 3123. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E. Fernandez, R. A. Marino, and X. C. Carreira Algorithms for dairy barn design: Maternity and milking areas J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2009; 92(5): 2276 - 2296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. A. Abrahamse, B. Vlaeminck, S. Tamminga, and J. Dijkstra The Effect of Silage and Concentrate Type on Intake Behavior, Rumen Function, and Milk Production in Dairy Cows in Early and Late Lactation J Dairy Sci, December 1, 2008; 91(12): 4778 - 4792. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
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]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, D. Olenick, and D. M. Weary Acute Behavioral Effects of Regrouping Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, March 1, 2008; 91(3): 1011 - 1016. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Hosseinkhani, T. J. DeVries, K. L. Proudfoot, R. Valizadeh, D. M. Veira, and M. A. G. von Keyserlingk The Effects of Feed Bunk Competition on the Feed Sorting Behavior of Close-Up Dry Cows J Dairy Sci, March 1, 2008; 91(3): 1115 - 1121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. A. Gonzalez, A. Ferret, X. Manteca, J. L. Ruiz-de-la-Torre, S. Calsamiglia, M. Devant, and A. Bach Effect of the number of concentrate feeding places per pen on performance, behavior, and welfare indicators of Friesian calves during the first month after arrival at the feedlot J Anim Sci, February 1, 2008; 86(2): 419 - 431. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Huzzey, D. M. Veira, D. M. Weary, and M. A. G. von Keyserlingk Prepartum Behavior and Dry Matter Intake Identify Dairy Cows at Risk for Metritis J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2007; 90(7): 3220 - 3233. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. A. Fregonesi, C. B. Tucker, and D. M. Weary Overstocking Reduces Lying Time in Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2007; 90(7): 3349 - 3354. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. B. Walsh, D. F. Kelton, T. F. Duffield, K. E. Leslie, J. S. Walton, and S. J. LeBlanc Prevalence and Risk Factors for Postpartum Anovulatory Condition in Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, January 1, 2007; 90(1): 315 - 324. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. J. DeVries and M. A. G. von Keyserlingk Feed stalls affect the social and feeding behavior of lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci, September 1, 2006; 89(9): 3522 - 3531. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E. Fernandez, R. A. Marino, and X. C. Carreira Algorithms for dairy barn design: resting, feeding, and exercise. J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2006; 89(7): 2784 - 2798. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Huzzey, T. J. DeVries, P. Valois, and M. A. G. von Keyserlingk Stocking Density and Feed Barrier Design Affect the Feeding and Social Behavior of Dairy Cattle J Dairy Sci, January 1, 2006; 89(1): 126 - 133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. L. Mentink and N. B. Cook Short Communication: Feed Bunk Utilization in Dairy Cows Housed in Pens with Either Two or Three Rows of Free Stalls J Dairy Sci, January 1, 2006; 89(1): 134 - 138. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. J. DeVries, M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, and K. A. Beauchemin Frequency of Feed Delivery Affects the Behavior of Lactating Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, October 1, 2005; 88(10): 3553 - 3562. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. I. Endres, T. J. DeVries, M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, and D. M. Weary Short Communication: Effect of Feed Barrier Design on the Behavior of Loose-Housed Lactating Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2005; 88(7): 2377 - 2380. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. J. DeVries and M. A. G. von Keyserlingk Time of Feed Delivery Affects the Feeding and Lying Patterns of Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, February 1, 2005; 88(2): 625 - 631. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
