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Interplay between productive traits, the social rank and the cow's stability in the order of entrance to the milking parlour

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2020

E. Vargas-Bello-Pérez Open the ORCID record for E. Vargas-Bello-Pérez [Opens in a new window] ,
J. Bastías-Ruz ,
P. Toro-Mujica ,
D.L. Teixeira  and
D. Enriquez-Hidalgo
E. Vargas-Bello-Pérez*
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 3, DK-1870Frederiksberg C, Denmark Departamento de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla-306, P. O. Box 6904411, Santiago, Chile
J. Bastías-Ruz
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla-306, P. O. Box 6904411, Santiago, Chile
P. Toro-Mujica
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencias Agroalimentarias, Animales y Ambientales - ICA3, Universidad de O’Higgins, Ruta 90 km 3, San Fernando, Chile
D.L. Teixeira
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencias Agroalimentarias, Animales y Ambientales - ICA3, Universidad de O’Higgins, Ruta 90 km 3, San Fernando, Chile
D. Enriquez-Hidalgo*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla-306, P. O. Box 6904411, Santiago, Chile Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford, Somerset, BS40 5DU, UK Sustainable Agriculture Sciences Department, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2SB, UK
*
Authors for correspondence: E. Vargas-Bello-Pérez, E-mail: [email protected]; D. Enriquez-Hidalgo, E-mail: [email protected]
Authors for correspondence: E. Vargas-Bello-Pérez, E-mail: [email protected]; D. Enriquez-Hidalgo, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether social rank (SR) and stability in the order of entrance to the milking parlour are associated with production traits. The study was conducted on a dairy farm where cows (n = 215) were managed in three groups according to lactation stage (group 1: 78 cows, 0–100 days in milk (DIM); group 2: 65 cows, 101–200 DIM and group 3: 72 cows, >200 DIM). SR was calculated from observations made from agonistic behaviour performed at the water troughs and feed bunks of each pen (n = 3). The animals were classified into three levels of dominance based on at least five clear interactions, resulting in: 61 dominant, 75 intermediate and 69 subordinate cows based on SR. Stability in the order of entry was estimated as the standard deviation of the entry position. SR was weakly correlated with milk yield, urea and protein content in milk. The results showed that stable cows had higher milk production and entered the milking parlour after the non-stable animals. Stability in the order of entry to the milking parlour was not affected by SR. Overall, the use of milking facilities appears to be associated with production traits rather than SR.

Keywords

Animal welfaredairymilking ordersocial hierarchy
Type
Animal Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 158 , Issue 6 , August 2020 , pp. 518 - 526
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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