摘要
Dairy cows consistently exhibit patterns of feeding and milk synthesis. These patterns can be entrained by environmental cues and management practices. The study of behavior of cows is an essential practice to enhance cow well-being and milk production. Two studies were conducted to better understand the relationship between cow behavioral patterns, physiology, and performance. First, we investigated the effect of season on daily rhythms of body temperature, milk production and milk components. In this experiment, daily rhythms were observed in fall, summer, and spring but winter did not fit a rhythm (P< 0.05). Season also tended to affect the AM to PM ratio of milk yield (P = 0.09). However, season did not affect the AM to PM ratio of fat and protein concentration in milk. The effect of season on daily rhythms of temperature is significant while season’s effect on daily rhythm of milk yield is minimal. Secondly, we examined the effect of using automated feeding robots on cow performance (milk production and milk components), cow behavior and total mixed ration consistency at the feed bunk. The use of feeding systems did not affect milk production and milk components except for lactose (P = 0.02). However, the use of automated feeding robot reduced variability in feed ration at the feed bunk. Ration consistency is an important factor in maintaining proper rumen health. Further research on the effects of automatic feeding systems on rumen health, ration consistency and dairy performance is recommended.
摘要译文
奶牛一贯表现出喂养和牛奶合成的模式。这些模式可以被环境提示和管理实践所夹住。对牛行为的研究是增强牛健康和牛奶产量的重要做法。进行了两项研究，以更好地了解牛行为模式，生理学和表现之间的关系。首先，我们研究了季节对体温，牛奶生产和牛奶成分每日节奏的影响。在此实验中，在秋季，夏季和春季观察到每天的节奏，但冬季不符合节奏（p <0.05）。季节还倾向于影响牛奶产量的AM与PM的比率（P = 0.09）。但是，季节不会影响牛奶中脂肪和蛋白质浓度的AM与PM的比率。季节对每日温度节奏的影响很大，而季节对牛奶产量每日节奏的影响很小。其次，我们研究了使用自动喂养机器人对饲料床上牛的性能（牛奶生产和牛奶成分），牛行为和总混合评分一致性的影响。除乳糖外，喂养系统的使用不会影响牛奶产量和牛奶成分（p = 0.02）。但是，使用自动进食机器人可以降低进料床处的饲料评分的变异性。配给一致性是维持适当的瘤胃健康的重要因素。建议对自动喂养系统对瘤胃健康，定量一致性和乳制品表现的影响进一步研究。
Kamau, Kevin Kairu. Effects of Season on Circadian Rhythms of Behavior and Production, and Effects of Automated Feeding Robots on Ration Consistency, Cow Behavior, and Performance[D]. US: University of Minnesota, 2022