摘要
In 2 experiments we assessed how preferences, time budgets, and feeding behavior of dairy cows change in response to flooring surfaces in front of the feed bunk. In Experiment 1, 12 nonlactating dairy cattle were individually housed with access to 2 standing platforms filled with either concrete or sawdust. In Experiment 2, 24 nonlactating dairy cattle were given access to either concrete or Animat rubber flooring in front of the feed bunk. In Experiment 1, cows preferred the sawdust to the concrete flooring. In both experiments, cows provided with a softer floor in front of the feed bunk spent more time standing near the feed bunk without eating (Experiment 1: 67 vs. 40 min/d on sawdust vs. concrete, respectively, SEM = 5.6 min/d; Experiment 2: 176 vs. 115 min/d on Animat vs. concrete, respectively, SEM = 20.5 min/d) compared with when they were kept on concrete. The increased time spent at the feed bunk was due to a combination of more frequent eating and standing bouts, indicating that cows were more willing to move on nonconcrete flooring. Total time spent eating was significantly greater on the softer floor in Experiment 2, but not in Experiment 1 (Exp. 1: 289 vs. 275 min/d on sawdust and concrete, respectively, SEM = 7.3 min/d; Exp. 2: 330 vs. 289 min/d on Animat and concrete, respectively, SEM = 15.4), although feed intake was increased on the sawdust treatment in Experiment 1. Cows spent significantly more time lying in the feed alley when the flooring was rubber (219 vs. 53 min/d on Animat and concrete, SEM = 53.6 min/d), perhaps because the lying area in Experiment 2 was inadequate. In conclusion, cows prefer to stand on softer flooring in front of the feed bunk, and are more willing to move on and spend more time standing in front of the feed bunk when provided with softer flooring. These results indicate that cows find softer flooring surfaces more comfortable to stand on than concrete, and highlight the importance of evaluating the comfort of the entire facility.
摘要译文
在2个实验中，我们评估了奶牛的喜好，时间预算和喂养行为如何响应饲料铺位前的地板表面而改变。在实验1中，12头非乳制奶牛单独饲养，可以进入2个装满混凝土或木屑的立式平台。在实验2中，24头非乳养奶牛在饲料铺前面进入混凝土或Animat橡胶地板。在实验1中，奶牛喜欢锯末到混凝土地面。在两个实验中，在饲料铺前提供较软地板的母牛花费更多时间站在饲料铺附近而不进食（实验1：锯末与混凝土相比67分钟对比40分钟/SEM \x3d 5.6min / d;实验2：Animat与混凝土的对比度分别为176和115 min / d，SEM分别为20.5 min / d）和混凝土保持时间。在饲料铺上花费的时间增加是由于更频繁的进食和站立较量的组合，这表明奶牛更愿意在非混凝土地板上移动。在实验2中，在较软的地板上花费的总时间显着较大，但在实验1中没有（实验1：分别为木屑和混凝土的289和275分钟/ d，SEM \x3d 7.3分钟/天;实验1。在Animat和混凝土上分别为2：330对289分钟/ d，SEM \x3d 15.4），但实验1中锯屑处理的采食量增加。当地板为橡胶时，母牛在饲料巷中花费的时间显着更多（Animat和混凝土上的219和53分钟/天，SEM \x3d 53.6分钟/天），也许是因为实验2中的躺卧区域不足。总之，母牛宁愿站在饲料铺位前的软地板上，当他们提供更软的地板时，他们更愿意继续前进，并将更多时间花在饲料铺前。这些结果表明，奶牛发现较软的地板表面比混凝土更舒适，并强调评估整个设施的舒适度的重要性。
C.B.Tucker[*];D.M.Weary[*];A.M.de Passillé[*][†];B.Campbell[*];J.Rushen[*][†];. Flooring in Front of the Feed Bunk Affects Feeding Behavior and Use of Freestalls by Dairy Cows[J]. Journal of Dairy Science, 2006,89(6): 2065-2071