摘要
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing stocking density on indices of cow comfort measured over a 24-h period, during peak lying time (0000 to 0400 h), and 1 h after the afternoon milking. Holstein cows (n = 136) were assigned to 1 of 4 pens, and stocking densities of 100, 113, 131, and 142% were applied in a 4 × 4 Latin square. Video data were recorded continuously for 2 d after 5 d of acclimation to stocking density and analyzed with 10-min scan samples for the percentage of cows lying in a stall, standing in a stall, standing in the alley, and eating at the manger. Percentage of cows standing idly in the alley increased as stocking density increased above 113% (10.9, 12.0, 14.4, and 16.5% for 100, 113, 131, and 142% stocking density, respectively). Cow comfort index (CCI; cows lying down/cows contacting stalls) and stall standing index (SSI; cows standing in stall/cows contacting stalls) differed little as stocking density increased, but stall use index (SUI; cows lying in stall/cows in pen not eating) decreased beyond 113% stocking density (70.1, 70.2, 68.6, and 66.3 for 100, 113, 131, and 142% stocking density, respectively). During peak lying time, SUI decreased with increasing (80.3, 79.5, 74.8, and 69.6 for 100, 113, 131, and 142% stocking density, respectively) stocking density above 113%, whereas CCI and SSI showed little response. None of the indices varied by stocking density when they were assessed at 1 h after milking. These results suggest that more than 1 index of cow comfort may be needed at higher stocking densities to assess both stall usage and cows standing idly in an alley. At higher stocking densities, SUI was reduced, because it reflected not only stall usage but the number of cows standing idly in an alley and not actively feeding and unable to access a stall. The CCI and SSI appear to assess actual stall usage (% cows lying or standing) across the range of stocking densities evaluated in this study.
摘要译文
本研究的目的是评估在24小时内，高峰产蛋时间（0000至0400小时）以及下午挤奶后1小时内，饲养密度的提高对奶牛舒适度指标的影响。将荷斯坦奶牛（n = 136）分配给4头钢笔中的1头，并在4×4的拉丁方格中应用100、113、131和142％的放养密度。在适应放养密度5天后连续2 d连续记录视频数据，并用10分钟扫描样本进行分析，以了解在摊位中，站在摊位中，在小巷中以及在马槽中进食的母牛的百分比。当饲养密度增加到113％以上时，闲置在小巷中的母牛所占的百分比增加（100、113、131和142％的饲养密度分别为10.9、12.0、14.4和16.5％）。奶牛舒适指数（CCI；躺着的奶牛/接触摊位的母牛和摊位站立指数（SSI）；随着放养密度的增加，站在摊位/与摊位接触的奶牛的差异很小，但摊位使用指数（SUI）；停在围栏/不吃围栏的母牛的母牛的放牧密度下降到超过113％（100、113、131和142％的放牧密度分别为70.1、70.2、68.6和66.3）。在高峰期，SUI下降（分别为100％，113％，131％和142％的放养密度分别为80.3、79.5、74.8和69.6），放养密度超过113％，而CCI和SSI几乎没有响应。挤奶后1小时评估储藏密度时，这些指数均没有变化。这些结果表明，在较高的放养密度下，可能需要超过1个指数的母牛舒适度，以评估摊位使用情况和无所事事地站在小巷中的母牛。在较高的放养密度下，SUI降低了，因为它不仅反映了摊位的使用情况，而且还反映了闲置地站在小巷中，没有积极进食且无法进入摊位的母牛的数量。 CCI和SSI似乎是在本研究评估的整个饲养密度范围内评估实际档位的使用情况（母牛躺下或站立的百分比）。