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Consequences of space restriction on the behaviour of loose-housed dairy cows
To bring the resultsinto a theoretical framework, agonistic behaviour is considered as an externalhomeostatic system. Crowding is considered to hamper animalwelfare when the animalsare no longer able to keep aggression at a non-detrimentallevel by social spacing. This stage was reached in some of the studies described. CONSEQUENCESOF SPACE RESTRICTION ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF LOOSE-HOUSEDDAIRY COWS H.K. WIERENGA
Research Institute for Animal Husbandry “Schoonoord”, lands)
Zeist (The Nether-
ABSTRACT
There is an increasingtendency in Holland to house dairy cows at a density in which there are insufficient lying and eatingplaces for simultaneous use by all the individualspresent. Therefore our research,which studiesthe effects of overcrowding in a cubicle system, was begun. The effect of “total” restriction of space (cubicles, walking area, as well as eatingplaces) was studied. In order to be able to obtain information about every animal of the group, the researchwas done with small groups. The effect of crowding was measuredwithin the group, because by comparing between groups the difference in reaction between the groups would be measuredtoo. Only part of the resultsof the experimentsis given, namely the effect of restriction of space on these types of behaviour which are directly influenced by crowding. Time spent eatingdid not appear to be influenced very much when the feeding level was high. There was, however, a significantdecreaseof 1.5 h (from 14.5 to 13 h) in the time spent in the cubicles. This “extra” 1.5 h is mostly spent in the walking area. About twice as much chasingwas seen in the overcrowded housing system as in the normal housing system. This was caused mostly by an increaseof chases from the feedgate (at feeding times) and from cubicles (mostly in the night period). The numbers of attempted displacements(an “unsuccessful chase”; the cow pushes, but the pushed cow stays where she is) and penetrations(the cow pushesherself with a lot of force between two eating cows, or beside a cow occupying a cubicle) also increasedvery much. The increasewas found partly early in the morning at the feedgate, when the cows received a muchliked mix of maize and concentrates, and partly during the night at the lying places, when normally the maximum numbers of lying animalsare seen. Leaningis a type of behaviour in which a cow mrshesgently with her
386
head against another cow and often holds this position for a few minutes. This type of behaviour was seen more in the crowded housing system and also more often early in the morning and during the night than at other times. In conclusion, the increase in the numbers of chases, attempted displacements, penetrations and leanings in the overcrowded housing system suggest that cows in this system do have problems in obtaining a place to lie and eat and that these basic behavioural needs are not being catered for.
DUST-BATHING BEHAVIOUR IN THE DOMESTIC HEN
K. VESTERGAARD
Royal Veterinary and Agriculture1 University, Copenhagen (Denmark)
ABSTRACT
From the present state of knowledge, an attempt was made to evaluate and discuss whether or not dust-bathing is a basic behavioural need for the domestic hen. It was concluded that dust-bathing is a normal event in the life of both the domestic fowl and its ancestor, the Red Junglefowl. From studies by the author, it was demonstrated that dust-bathing occurs frequently in deep litter pens and at a lower rate as vacuum activities on wire floors. From other studies, it is well known that dust-bathing also occurs as a vacuum activity in cages but again much less frequently than in deep litter pens. Therefore, dust-bathing occurs under almost all conditions, including those that are very far from the optimal, and in that sense it could be called a behavioural need. Any behaviour may be termed a need if its function is very significant for the animal and/or the behaviour pattern must inevitably express itself.’ Therefore, (1) the function(s) and (2) the behavioural regulation of dustbathing were evaluated. (1) From studies on quails, it has been demonstrated that dust-bathing in dust results in better alignment of the feather barbs, in drier and more fluffy down and in a reduction of the amount of feather lipid. However, it is uncertain whether these effects of dust-bathing represent a real need, and accordingly it is uncertain if well-being is reduced in birds kept without access to dust. (2) It was demonstrated that hens show a diurnal rhythm in their dustbathing. Evidence was also presented for an “accumulation” effect of deprivation. The tendency to perform dust-bathing increased with deprivation time, and after deprivation the birds also performed dust-bathing in the morning at 09.00 h although that was clearly before they would normally
Research Institute for Animal Husbandry “Schoonoord”, lands)
Zeist (The Nether-
ABSTRACT
There is an increasingtendency in Holland to house dairy cows at a density in which there are insufficient lying and eatingplaces for simultaneous use by all the individualspresent. Therefore our research,which studiesthe effects of overcrowding in a cubicle system, was begun. The effect of “total” restriction of space (cubicles, walking area, as well as eatingplaces) was studied. In order to be able to obtain information about every animal of the group, the researchwas done with small groups. The effect of crowding was measuredwithin the group, because by comparing between groups the difference in reaction between the groups would be measuredtoo. Only part of the resultsof the experimentsis given, namely the effect of restriction of space on these types of behaviour which are directly influenced by crowding. Time spent eatingdid not appear to be influenced very much when the feeding level was high. There was, however, a significantdecreaseof 1.5 h (from 14.5 to 13 h) in the time spent in the cubicles. This “extra” 1.5 h is mostly spent in the walking area. About twice as much chasingwas seen in the overcrowded housing system as in the normal housing system. This was caused mostly by an increaseof chases from the feedgate (at feeding times) and from cubicles (mostly in the night period). The numbers of attempted displacements(an “unsuccessful chase”; the cow pushes, but the pushed cow stays where she is) and penetrations(the cow pushesherself with a lot of force between two eating cows, or beside a cow occupying a cubicle) also increasedvery much. The increasewas found partly early in the morning at the feedgate, when the cows received a muchliked mix of maize and concentrates, and partly during the night at the lying places, when normally the maximum numbers of lying animalsare seen. Leaningis a type of behaviour in which a cow mrshesgently with her
386
head against another cow and often holds this position for a few minutes. This type of behaviour was seen more in the crowded housing system and also more often early in the morning and during the night than at other times. In conclusion, the increase in the numbers of chases, attempted displacements, penetrations and leanings in the overcrowded housing system suggest that cows in this system do have problems in obtaining a place to lie and eat and that these basic behavioural needs are not being catered for.
DUST-BATHING BEHAVIOUR IN THE DOMESTIC HEN
K. VESTERGAARD
Royal Veterinary and Agriculture1 University, Copenhagen (Denmark)
ABSTRACT
From the present state of knowledge, an attempt was made to evaluate and discuss whether or not dust-bathing is a basic behavioural need for the domestic hen. It was concluded that dust-bathing is a normal event in the life of both the domestic fowl and its ancestor, the Red Junglefowl. From studies by the author, it was demonstrated that dust-bathing occurs frequently in deep litter pens and at a lower rate as vacuum activities on wire floors. From other studies, it is well known that dust-bathing also occurs as a vacuum activity in cages but again much less frequently than in deep litter pens. Therefore, dust-bathing occurs under almost all conditions, including those that are very far from the optimal, and in that sense it could be called a behavioural need. Any behaviour may be termed a need if its function is very significant for the animal and/or the behaviour pattern must inevitably express itself.’ Therefore, (1) the function(s) and (2) the behavioural regulation of dustbathing were evaluated. (1) From studies on quails, it has been demonstrated that dust-bathing in dust results in better alignment of the feather barbs, in drier and more fluffy down and in a reduction of the amount of feather lipid. However, it is uncertain whether these effects of dust-bathing represent a real need, and accordingly it is uncertain if well-being is reduced in birds kept without access to dust. (2) It was demonstrated that hens show a diurnal rhythm in their dustbathing. Evidence was also presented for an “accumulation” effect of deprivation. The tendency to perform dust-bathing increased with deprivation time, and after deprivation the birds also performed dust-bathing in the morning at 09.00 h although that was clearly before they would normally