Effects of Varying the Environment on the Behaviour and Performance of Dairy Cattle

J.L. Albright

Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Hamilton

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1971, 31: 10-21

Selection of farm animals has been based upon productivity and behavioural traits. Attempts to measure the environment of the cow utilize score card, multiple regression and production function appraisals. Feeding, milking practices and high milk production per cow emerge as the most important variables. Management ability and success of 30 California commercial dairymen with large-scale herds was measured illustrating a consistent year-to-year pattern.

Social structures exist in all dairy herds. In adult animals they are essentially linear, Psychological disturbances, such as placing a new member into the herd, isolation of a cow from herdmates, stressful stimuli such as predators and climatic shifts, affect milk production and composition. Attempts to measure temperament are difficult and generally involve the milk ejection reflex. Four types of nervous activities in cows illustrate their wide differences in milk production.

Estimates of heritability for temperament and dominance were high (0.5 and 0.4 on a basis of 1.0, respectively). The relationship between temperament and dominance scores with milk production appears unresolved.

The behaviour of cows entering the milking shed illustrates that cows are consistent and these patterns are linked with previous training to one side of the parlour or the other. Higher producers enter the milking area earlier than lower yielding ones during early lactation.

Milk production as well as social and maternal behaviour was modified considerably by early calf-hood feeding and rearing experiences.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000