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| 2. |
- Ferneborg, Sabine, et al.
(author)
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Effect of Low Light Intensity on Stress Indicators in Dairy Cows
- 2014
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In: Animal Production in Australia. - 0728-5965. ; 30, s. 152-152
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- One of the most important senses for cows is vision, which accounts for approximately 50% of all sensory information (Phillips 2002). It has been shown that cows’ vision differs from that of humans (Phillips and Weiguo 1990), but how cows perceive different light intensities is not yet known (Phillips et al 2000). There is a concern that lighting at night might interfere with cows’ diurnal rhythm and the benefits of certain long day photoperiods. Red light has been suggested to affect cows less than white light and red lights are therefore marketed as night lighting for cows. Using red lights should in theory make it possible for stockmen to observe their animals without disturbing them (Dahl 2005). However, it has also been found that cows are more active when exposed to red light compared to light of other colours (Dabrowska I 1981; Riol et al 1989; Phillips and Lomas 2001). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of four low light intensities and additional red light on behavioural and physiological stress indicators in dairy cows. The change-over trial included four groups of cows and four different light intensity treatments, in total 12 dry cows of the breeds Swedish Red (n=10) and Swedish Holstein (n=2). Each group of three cows was in the study for four consecutive days, exposed to one light intensity treatment per day. The light intensities used in the study were 0±0, 5±1, 20±1 and 50±2 lux, with and without the addition of 0.2±0.1 lux red light. The light sources used were a combination of fluorescent, halogen and LED. The cows were encouraged to walk through an obstacle course at all four light intensities. The cows passed through the course once in full light (221±19 lux) before each light intensity was set. The cows then passed through the same test course twice. After this, the obstacle course was rebuilt for the following two rounds, generating two new (and unfamiliar) courses. Additional red light was applied in random order for each set of obstacle courses. In total, the cows passed through the course five times per day, of which two were in additional red light. The obstacle course measured 14 m and was constructed from white rails and cavaletti blocks. When navigating through the obstacle course, the cow walked toward the single pens where the remaining two cows in the group were held and a bucket with concentrate that was used to actively encourage the cow to move. In addition, one person went behind the cow and encouraged her to move if standing still for more than approximately 15 seconds. Heart rate was measured before and after the obstacle course using a blood pressure tail cuff. Direct observations were used to record number of steps and time to pass through the obstacle course. At 0 lux, infrared light and video cameras were used in order to see the cows. The number of steps taken by cows in the obstacle course was significantly higher at 0±0 lux (16 steps) than at 5, 20 and 50 lux (14 steps per treatment, p<0.001). In the presence of red light the cows took fewer steps through the obstacle course than in the absence of red light (14 and 15 respectively, p<0.01), and the cows spent a longer time in the obstacle course at 0 lux than at 20 and 50 lux (87.4, 51.6 and 57.6 sec respectively, p<0.005). The presence of red light did not affect the time spent in the obstacle course. Heart rate did not differ between any of the treatments, and was unaffected by the presence of red light. Our conclusion is that cows walk slower and with shorter steps at 0 lux compared with 0.2 lux and higher light intensities. However, in this study the cows did not show any signs of physiological stress at low light intensities or darkness and thus it could be argued that no additional light is needed at all during night-time. We also conclude that red light may be perceived by cows as light and affect their behaviour, since the cows in this study tended to respond to red light. The recommended use of red light in cow housing should therefore be questioned.
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| 4. |
- Ferneborg, Sabine, et al.
(author)
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Milking time and risk of over-milking can be decreased with early teat cup removal based on udder quarter milk flow without loss in milk yield
- 2017
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In: Journal of Dairy Science. - : American Dairy Science Association. - 0022-0302 .- 1525-3198. ; 100, s. 6640-6647
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Increasing the milk flow rate at which milking is terminated can shorten milking time and increase milking efficiency. The effects on milk yield and composition have not been fully investigated when the take-off is set at the udder quarter level and independent of feeding during milking. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of 3 take-off levels at the udder quarter level (0.06, 0.3, and 0.48 kg/min) applied with or without feeding during milking on milking time, milk yield, the degree of udder emptying, milk composition, and free fatty acids. In this study, 30 cows were allocated into 6 groups, balanced by lactation number, lactation stage, and milk yield, and subjected to a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments using a Latin square design. Treatments were applied for 1 wk each. This study demonstrated milking time could be reduced by applying up to a take-off level of 0.48 kg/min on udder quarter level without losing milk yield or compromising milk composition or udder health.
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| 7. |
- Hellström, Malin, et al.
(author)
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Calf or grass - What would the cow choose?
- 2023
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In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. - 0168-1591 .- 1872-9045. ; 268
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The growing interest for keeping dairy cows with their calves for an extended period after calving is putting pressure on the scientific community to investigate the effects of cow-calf contact systems on the animals ' welfare. The main aims of this study were to investigate the dairy cows ' motivation for accessing their calves over a fresh pasture, and to evaluate if their motivation decreased with increasing calf age. Twenty-two Swedish Red and Swedish Holstein cow-calf pairs were enrolled at calving. The dams were housed in a robotic barn with free access to outdoor pasture, where the calves were kept during pasture season. The behaviours of the dams were recorded on three separate test days occurring every two weeks, starting when the calves were on average 10 weeks old. During test days, the calves were confined to a heavily grazed area, while the dams had free access both to the calf area and to an adjacent fresh pasture. Which of the areas the dams entered first upon returning outdoors from the barn, and what behaviours they performed in which area were registered using 10-min scan sampling during 8 h per day. The dams spent more time outdoors on Test day I (76.8 +/- 3.09%; LSMeans +/- SEM) compared to Day II (60.9 +/- 3.86%; P=0.006), while Day III (66.8 +/- 4.38%) did not differ from Day I (P=0.15) or Day II (P=0.55). On Test day II, they chose the calf area 54 +/- 10.05% of the times they returned to pasture, which was significantly more often than during Day I (18.2 +/- 4.96%; P=0.01), while no difference was found between Day III (37.1 +/- 9.86%) and Day I (P=0.17) or Day II (P=0.5). There was no effect of breed on total time spent outdoors, but Holstein dams tended to spend more outdoor time in the calf area (36.4 +/- 5.28%) than Swedish Red dams (24.2 +/- 3.95%; P=0.09). Upon returning outdoors, Holstein dams also chose the calf area over fresh pasture more often (46.0 +/- 7.19%) than did Swedish Red dams (25.2 +/- 6.21%; P=0.05). Primiparous cows tended to choose the calf area over fresh pasture more often (46.9 +/- 6.11%) than multiparous cows (24.5 +/- 7.25%; P=0.06). Exploratory analyses suggest that the effects of test day were more affected by the ambient weather than by the age of the calves. The study results provide some further information about factors influencing maternal motivation to reunite with their calves on pasture. However, further research is needed so that cow-calf contact systems can be designed to enable good welfare.
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| 8. |
- Hjalmarsson, Fanny, et al.
(author)
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Effect of low light intensity at night on cow traffic in automatic milking systems
- 2014
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In: Animal Production Science. - 1836-0939 .- 1836-5787. ; 54, s. 1784-1786
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Several studies have shown benefits of long-day (16 h) photoperiod in lactating dairy cows, but have not identified a suitable light intensity for the dark hours. It is known that the locomotion pattern of dairy cows is altered at low light intensities and this may translate to reduced cow traffic and milking frequency, which would have a negative impact on system productivity. However, it is also recognised that a significant disturbance of rest may have a negative impact on the health and productivity of high-yielding dairy cows. This study examined the effect of three different night-time light intensities (LOW: 11 +/- 3, MED: 33 +/- 1 and HIGH: 74 +/- 6 lx) on number of gate passages, milking frequency and milk yield in dairy cows in automatic milking systems. The study was conducted in Sweden during the winter of 2012-13 and the treatments were applied in a crossover design to three herds with an automatic milking system. Minimum day time light intensity was 158 lx. Data on gate passages, milking frequency and milk yield for 172 +/- 49 (mean +/- s.d.) cows during the last 22 days of each 34-day study period were analysed for treatment differences and differences in daily distribution over 24 h, during day time and night time. Light intensity did not affect total number of gate passages per 24-h period and cow, but number of gate passages per hour and cow was in all treatments lower during night time than during day time. Milking frequency was increased in MED compared with both HIGH and LOW (P < 0.05). Milk yield decreased with reduced light intensity, and differed significantly between HIGH and LOW treatments, 45 +/- 1 kg and 44 +/- 1 kg, respectively (P < 0.001). Our conclusion is that reducing light intensity to 11 lx at night time does not affect cows' general activity as gate passages remained the same for all treatments. However, milk yield decreased with reduced light intensity, which might be related to a lower feed intake. We argue that providing night light for dairy cows, as required by many welfare acts, might be related to production level rather than welfare aspects and that the recommendations should be revised.
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| 9. |
- Lindkvist, Sofia, et al.
(author)
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Effects of achromatic and chromatic lights on pupillary response, endocrinology, activity, and milk production in dairy cows
- 2021
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In: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Artificial light can be used as a management tool to increase milk yield in dairy production. However, little is known about how cows respond to the spectral composition of light. The aim of this study was to investigate how dairy cows respond to artificial achromatic and chromatic lights. A tie-stall barn equipped with light-emitting diode (LED) light fixtures was used to create the controlled experimental light environments. Two experiments were conducted, both using dairy cows of Swedish Red and light mixtures with red, blue or white light. In experiment I, the response to light of increasing intensity on pupil size was evaluated in five pregnant non-lactating cows. In experiment II 16h of achromatic and chromatic daylight in combination with dim, achromatic night light, was tested on pregnant lactating cows during five weeks to observe long term effects on milk production, activity and circadian rhythms. Particular focus was given to possible carry over effects of blue light during the day on activity at night since this has been demonstrated in humans. Increasing intensity of white and blue light affected pupil size (P<0.001), but there was no effect on pupil size with increased intensity of red light. Milk yield was maintained throughout experiment II, and plasma melatonin was higher during dim night light than in daylight for all treatments (P<0.001). In conclusion, our results show that LED fixtures emitting red light driving the ipRGCs indirectly via ML-cones, blue light stimulating both S-cones and ipRGCs directly and a mixture of wavelengths (white light) exert similar effects on milk yield and activity in tied-up dairy cows. This suggests that the spectral composition of LED lighting in a barn is secondary to duration and intensity.
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| 10. |
- Rustas, Bengt-Ove, et al.
(author)
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The evolutionary operation framework as a tool for herd-specific control of mastitis in dairy cows
- 2024
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In: Livestock Science. - 1871-1413 .- 1878-0490. ; 279
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mastitis is the most prevalent and costly production disease in the dairy industry, but udder health advice that helps one herd might not be beneficial for another because of “local truths”. It is therefore important to identify what mastitis control options may work in a specific herd in the conditions specific to the herd. We evaluated whether the Evolutionary Operation (EVOP) methodology could be used as a management tool to identify mastitis control options to improve udder health in dairy herds. Within an EVOP framework we conducted sequences of experiments, on each of two dairy farms in Sweden. The experiments covered interventions within 1) hygiene in cubicles, 2) milking routines, and 3) dry-off procedures. Automatically recorded somatic cell counts (SCCs) in milk were used as the response variable. The impact of the interventions on SCC was evaluated with multivariate dynamic linear models. Farmer and staff satisfaction was assessed through interviews. The EVOP methodology was successfully applied, and the farmers appreciated it. We observed herd-specific variation in the effect of the interventions, indicating that EVOP would be a feasible approach to tailor mastitis control options to individual herds. Our results indicate that the EVOP methodology could be a tool to identify and evaluate health management strategies on dairy farms.
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