| dc.description.abstract | eparating calves from the cow is a dairy management act that provokes the public debate. The intended health benefits for the calves are up for debate. While effects of separation on calf health and wellbeing are frequently investigated, the effect of separation on the wellbeing of the cows has not been well investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in behavior of cows after immediate separation, versus separation after several hours or days. In this study, cows of 8 farms have been equipped with sensors on their feet and neck. A period of 21 days was analysed. Data on eating, ruminating, activity, inactivity and lying was collected. As well as information from the farmers concerning calving and time of separation. Cows where divided in 5 groups dependent on moment of separation, G1 immediate separation,
G2 separation within one hour, G3 separation within four hours, G4 separation within twelve hours, G5 separation after twelve hours. Cows who where immediately separated from their calves significantly differed from all the other groups in lying time. Cows in the group G1 spent around 610 ± 8.6 minutes a day lying, whereas the other groups spent around 640 minutes a day lying G2 629.5± 3.9, G3 654.2± 3.9, G4 646.3 ± 4.3. After 7 days of lower eating times the eating data increases and steadies at roughly the same level, so mean eating time differs from the level at which the groups stay after 7 days pp. Cows in G1 316.03 ± 5.83 had the highest eating time of around 350 minutes per day, G2 322.72 ± 2.41 and G3 317.81 ± 2.41 were slightly lower with around 330 minutes per day but with overall higher mean probably due to high daily mean on the first day owing to licking the calf. Eating time, after stabilizing, of G4 290.05 ± 2.65 was 2 around 330 minutes per day and of G5 189.59 ± 7.54 around 270 minutes per day. For ruminating time the course of the groups was almost the same. G2 376.14 ±2.62, G4 380.37 ±2.88 and G5 372.06 ± 8.18 were significantly higher than G1 366.42 ±5.57, G3 seemed slightly lower but did not significantly differ from G1. After stabilizing until around 7 days pp mean inactive time of G1 715.95 ± 8.95 was significantly lower than G2 700.93 ± 3.90, G4 730.27 ± 4.25 and G5 846.40 ± 12.08 while starting higher, G3 713.40 ± 3.91 did not significantly differ. Activity of G1 5361.37 ± 117.24 was higher from 7 days pp but mean overall activity was higher for G2 5469.45 ± 53.82 and G3 5450.23 ± 51.44 , G2, G4 4893.91 ± 57.18 and G5 3974.77 ± 162.06 significantly differed from G1.
Thus, in time eating, ruminating, activity and inactivity cows who had their calves removed immediately only did not differ significantly with the group who had their calves removed between one and four hours after calving. This study found a difference in behaviour, though further research is needed to investigate if the differences maintain during the whole lactation period. | |
