Influence of post-calving regrouping strategy on welfare and performance parameters in dairy heifers
Data(s) |
01/12/2008
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Resumo |
Thirty-six Holstein Friesian heifers (dairy herd replacements) were assigned to one of three regrouping treatments during the post-calving period. In Treatment 1, heifers were introduced individually to an established group of cows and heifers within 24 h of calving ('Single-day 1'). In Treatment 2, heifers were housed individually in a straw pen for I week after calving before being added individually to the group ('Single-day 7'). In Treatment 3, two heifers were housed together in a straw pen for 1 week after calving before being added as a pair to the group ('Pair-day T). The size of the resident group remained constant at 16 animals (10 mature cows and 6 first-lactation heifers). The behaviour of the heifers was assessed during their first 8 h and first month in the resident group, and milk yield parameters, body condition loss and live weight loss were assessed during the first month post-calving. Reproductive performance was assessed during the post-calving period, and hoof health parameters were measured I month prior to calving, and at I and 3 months post-calving. Heifers in the 'Pair-day 7' treatment appeared to associate closely during their first month in the group by spending more time than expected in the same pen area and in adjacent cubicles (P |
Identificador |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2008.03.004 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=52949150793&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
Idioma(s) |
eng |
Direitos |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
Fonte |
O'Connell , N , Wicks , H , Carson , A & Mccoy , M A 2008 , ' Influence of post-calving regrouping strategy on welfare and performance parameters in dairy heifers ' Applied Animal Behaviour Science , vol 114 , no. 3-4 , pp. 319-329 . DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2008.03.004 |
Palavras-Chave | #/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1103 #Animal Science and Zoology #/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3400/3403 #Food Animals |
Tipo |
article |