scholarly journals Should Dairy Cattle Be Trained to a Virtual Fence System as Individuals or in Groups?

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1767
Author(s):  
Patricia I. Colusso ◽  
Cameron E. F. Clark ◽  
Sabrina Lomax
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Group Training ◽  
Adverse Impacts ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Individual Training ◽  
Friesian Cows

Pre-commercial virtual fence (VF) neckbands (eShepherd®, Agersens, Melbourne, Vic, Australia) can contain cows within a designated area without the need for physical fencing, through associative learning of a paired audio tone and electrical pulse. Cattle are gregarious, so there may be an impact of herd mates on the learning process. To evaluate this, a VF was set 30 m down one of three test paddocks with a feed attractant 70 m past the VF. Twenty-three Holstein-Friesian cows were all fitted with VF neckbands and trained as individuals or in groups (5–6) for four 10 min tests; then, cows were crossed over to the alternate context for two more 10 min tests. The number of cows breaking through the VF and the number of paired stimuli reduced across time (from 82% to 26% and 45% to 14%, respectively, p < 0.01). Cows trained in a group (88%) were more likely to interact with the VF in the crossover compared to those trained as individuals (36%) (p < 0.01), indicating an influence of group members on individual cow response. Individual training is impractical, therefore, future research should evaluate group training protocols ensuring all cows learn the VF to avoid any adverse impacts on animal welfare.

The effect of space allowance and milk yield level on the performance and behaviour of dairy cattle housed in straw yards

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 108-108
Author(s):  
J. A. Fregonesi ◽  
J.D. Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Ways Of Coping ◽  
Yield Level ◽  
Face Width ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Friesian Cows

Space allowance could be an important variable affecting production, health, reproductive performance and behaviour of dairy cattle. Also, high and low yielding cows may have different ways of coping with insufficient space allowance. The aim of this experiment was to study the influence of space allowance and milk yield level on the performance and behaviour of strawyard housed dairy cows.The experiment was carried out using 24 Holstein Friesian cows with two groups in early lactation of high (over 30 kg/day milk yield) and two groups in late lactation of low yield (under 25 kg/day milk yield). The groups were allocated to strawyard systems with low stocking density (bed area/cow = 9 m2; pen area/cow = 13.5 m2; feed face width/cow = 1.5 m) or high stocking density (bed area/cow = 4.5 m2; pen area/cow = 6.75 m2; feed face width/cow = 0.75m) conforming to a changeover design with two periods, each of four weeks. The cows were fed a total mixed ration ad libitum and 2kg/cow/day of concentrate in the milking parlour. All animals were milked twice daily.

scholarly journals Coefficients of relationship and inbreeding among Finnish Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 338 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. VAHLSTEN ◽  
E. MÄNTYSAARI ◽  
I. STRANDÉN
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Pedigree Data ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Average Coefficient ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Coefficient Of Relationship ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Friesian Cows

Pedigree data from national breeding value evaluations were used in calculation of the coefficient and rate of inbreeding, average coefficient and rate of relationship and generation intervals for the Finnish Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle populations. The data had 1,366,555 Ayrshire and 377,869 Holstein-Friesian animals. The mean coefficient of inbreeding for Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian animals born in the 1990s was 2.29% and 0.90%, respectively, and the trend was towards higher inbreeding values. The average coefficient of relationship, mean increase in inbreeding and generation interval was calculated for bulls born between 1976 and 1999, and for cows born between 1986 and 1999. The mean coefficient of relationship of Ayrshire bulls increased 2.22 %-units per generation and inbreeding increased 0.20 %-units per generation during the years studied. The mean coefficient of relationship of Finnish Holstein-Friesian bulls increased 0.96 %-units per generation and inbreeding 0.17 %-units per generation. The mean coefficient of relationship and inbreeding of Ayrshire cows increased 0.38 %-units and 0.31 %-units per generation, respectively. For Holstein-Friesian cows the mean coefficient of relationship and inbreeding increased 0.25 %-units and 0.11 %-units per generation, respectively. Results show that inbreeding is low and it is increasing slowly in both breeds. However, especially the coefficients of relationship of Ayrshire bulls are high in some age classes and this may lead into faster increase in coefficients of inbreeding.;

The effect of space allowance and milk yield level on the performance and behaviour of dairy cattle housed in straw yards

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 108-108
Author(s):  
J. A. Fregonesi ◽  
J.D. Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Ways Of Coping ◽  
Yield Level ◽  
Face Width ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Friesian Cows

Space allowance could be an important variable affecting production, health, reproductive performance and behaviour of dairy cattle. Also, high and low yielding cows may have different ways of coping with insufficient space allowance. The aim of this experiment was to study the influence of space allowance and milk yield level on the performance and behaviour of strawyard housed dairy cows.The experiment was carried out using 24 Holstein Friesian cows with two groups in early lactation of high (over 30 kg/day milk yield) and two groups in late lactation of low yield (under 25 kg/day milk yield). The groups were allocated to strawyard systems with low stocking density (bed area/cow = 9 m2; pen area/cow = 13.5 m2; feed face width/cow = 1.5 m) or high stocking density (bed area/cow = 4.5 m2; pen area/cow = 6.75 m2; feed face width/cow = 0.75m) conforming to a changeover design with two periods, each of four weeks. The cows were fed a total mixed ration ad libitum and 2kg/cow/day of concentrate in the milking parlour. All animals were milked twice daily.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) concentrations in erythrocytes of dairy cattle and farm-raised deer by a computer-assisted analysis of microscopic images

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-279
Author(s):  
K. Paździor-Czapula ◽  
M. Gesek ◽  
T. Rotkiewicz ◽  
W. Kluciński ◽  
J. Kołodziejska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Superoxide Dismutase ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Red Blood Cells ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Immunohistochemical Method ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Microscopic Images ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Assisted Analysis ◽  
Friesian Cows

AbstractThe effectiveness of the immunohistochemical method in determining Cu/Zn SOD concentrations in red blood cells of dairy cattle and farm-raised deer was evaluated by a computer-assisted analysis of microscopic images and scanning technique. Superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) concentrations in erythrocytes were determined in smears of whole blood samples collected from 16 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows and 22 farm-raised deer in spring. Mouse anti-bovine SOD (Cu-Zn) monoclonal antibodies (2F5, Serotec) were used in 1:50 dilution. The degree of immunostaining for SOD in red blood cells was determined with the use of the MIDI 3DHistech Panoramic Scanner (Hungary) and 3DHistech Panoramic Viewer, NuclearQuant and MembraneQuant software. Our findings indicate that the immunohistochemical method is a useful technique for evaluating Cu/Zn SOD concentrations in red blood cells of cattle and deer

scholarly journals The Effect of Intravenous Butaphosphan, B12 and C Vitamins on Metritis, Mastitis Prevalence and Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cattle

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-118
Author(s):  
S.I. Borş ◽  
Şt. Creangă ◽  
D.L. Dascălu ◽  
A.M. Ariton ◽  
A. Borş
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Multiple Comparison ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Intravenous Solution ◽  
Friesian Cows

Abstract Three groups of Holstein Friesian cows were used to test the effect of two intravenous solutions on metritis, mastitis prevalence and reproductive performance. The first solution containing 3000 mg Butaphosphan (100 mg/ml) and 1.5 mg B12 Vitamin (0.05 mg/ml) was administered to BB12 group in the first 3 days after parturition and the second solution containing 3000 mg Butaphosphan (100 mg/ml), 1.5 mg B12 Vitamin (0.05 mg/ml) and 7 g of C vitamin (0.1 g/ml) was administered to BB12C group in the same period. The control group (C) didn’t receive any intravenous solution. The Tukey-Krammer multiple comparison tests were used to compare the results. The prevalence of clinical metritis, puerperal metritis and clinical mastitis was lower in the BB12C group (p< 0.05), compared to BB12 and C groups. Regarding the prevalence of metritis and mastitis no differences was observed in the BB12 group, compared with the C group (p>0.05). However, no difference was observed in the prevalence of the clinical endometritis (p>0.05) for the all three groups of cows. Also, the BB12C group registered the best calving to first insemination interval and calving to conception interval (p< 0.05). In conclusion, the intravenous cocktail containing Butaphosphan, B12 and C Vitamin can reduce the prevalence of some uterus and udder infection in the first 7 days after parturition in dairy cows.

scholarly journals Causal relationships between milk quality and coagulation properties in Italian Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle

2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Tiezzi ◽  
Bruno D Valente ◽  
Martino Cassandro ◽  
Christian Maltecca
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Quality ◽  
Causal Relationships ◽  
Holstein Friesian

scholarly journals The Use of Artificial Neural Networks and a General Discriminant Analysis for Predicting Culling Reasons in Holstein-Friesian Cows Based on First-Lactation Performance Records

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 721
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Adamczyk ◽  
Wilhelm Grzesiak ◽  
Daniel Zaborski
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Artificial Neural Networks ◽  
Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Multilayer Perceptrons ◽  
Correct Classification ◽  
Correct Classification Rate ◽  
Classification Rate ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Artificial Neural ◽  
Friesian Cows

The aim of the present study was to verify whether artificial neural networks (ANN) may be an effective tool for predicting the culling reasons in cows based on routinely collected first-lactation records. Data on Holstein-Friesian cows culled in Poland between 2017 and 2018 were used in the present study. A general discriminant analysis (GDA) was applied as a reference method for ANN. Considering all predictive performance measures, ANN were the most effective in predicting the culling of cows due to old age (99.76–99.88% of correctly classified cases). In addition, a very high correct classification rate (99.24–99.98%) was obtained for culling the animals due to reproductive problems. It is significant because infertility is one of the conditions that are the most difficult to eliminate in dairy herds. The correct classification rate for individual culling reasons obtained with GDA (0.00–97.63%) was, in general, lower than that for multilayer perceptrons (MLP). The obtained results indicated that, in order to effectively predict the previously mentioned culling reasons, the following first-lactation parameters should be used: calving age, calving difficulty, and the characteristics of the lactation curve based on Wood’s model parameters.

Comparison of milk production, mastitis, lameness and days to conception of Brown Swiss, Holstein and Holstein cross Brown Swiss dairy cattle

2006 ◽  
Vol 2006 ◽  
pp. 86-86
Author(s):  
G Wellwood ◽  
J K Margerison
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Brown Swiss ◽  
Somatic Cell Counts ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Holstein Friesian

Mastitis is a complex disease causing inflammation of the udder, which has been estimated to cost the dairy farmer between £40-£117/cow per year (Stott et al., 2002). Economic loss occurs as a result of discarded milk, reduced milk yield and milk quality, increased vet costs and an increase in replacement costs. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of breed on the incidence of mastitis and somatic cell counts and milk production capabilities of Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss and Brown Swiss crossbred cows.

scholarly journals Design of Free Stalls for Dairy Herds: A Review

Ruminants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Frank van Eerdenburg ◽  
Lars Ruud
Keyword(s):  
Optimal Design ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
High Impact ◽  
The Body ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Productive Life ◽  
To Come ◽  
Available Information

Lying is an important behavior of dairy cattle. Cows should spend more than 50% of a day lying as it has a high impact on their milk yield and animal welfare. The design, size, and flooring properties of the free stalls influence the time cows spend lying, the way they lie down, and their rising movements. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the currently available information with the aim to assist farmers and advisors to come to an optimal design of the free stalls. The design of the free stalls should enable the cows to move and lie in positions as natural as possible. Cows should rest, with all parts of the body, on a clean, dry and soft bed, be able to stretch their front legs forward, lie on their sides with unobstructed space for their neck and head, and rest with their heads against their flanks without hindrance from a partition. When they stand, they should not be hindered by neck rails, partitions, or supports. A comfortable place for cows to lie down helps cows to stay healthy, improve welfare, and increase milk yield. Hence, the probability of a longer productive life for the cows increases and the number of replacements per year decreases.

scholarly journals Determination of Body Parts in Holstein Friesian Cows Comparing Neural Networks and k Nearest Neighbour Classification

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Jennifer Salau ◽  
Jan Henning Haas ◽  
Wolfgang Junge ◽  
Georg Thaller
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Neural Networks ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Nearest Neighbour ◽  
Data Set ◽  
3D Data ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Knn Classification ◽  
Friesian Cows

Machine learning methods have become increasingly important in animal science, and the success of an automated application using machine learning often depends on the right choice of method for the respective problem and data set. The recognition of objects in 3D data is still a widely studied topic and especially challenging when it comes to the partition of objects into predefined segments. In this study, two machine learning approaches were utilized for the recognition of body parts of dairy cows from 3D point clouds, i.e., sets of data points in space. The low cost off-the-shelf depth sensor Microsoft Kinect V1 has been used in various studies related to dairy cows. The 3D data were gathered from a multi-Kinect recording unit which was designed to record Holstein Friesian cows from both sides in free walking from three different camera positions. For the determination of the body parts head, rump, back, legs and udder, five properties of the pixels in the depth maps (row index, column index, depth value, variance, mean curvature) were used as features in the training data set. For each camera positions, a k nearest neighbour classifier and a neural network were trained and compared afterwards. Both methods showed small Hamming losses (between 0.007 and 0.027 for k nearest neighbour (kNN) classification and between 0.045 and 0.079 for neural networks) and could be considered successful regarding the classification of pixel to body parts. However, the kNN classifier was superior, reaching overall accuracies 0.888 to 0.976 varying with the camera position. Precision and recall values associated with individual body parts ranged from 0.84 to 1 and from 0.83 to 1, respectively. Once trained, kNN classification is at runtime prone to higher costs in terms of computational time and memory compared to the neural networks. The cost vs. accuracy ratio for each methodology needs to be taken into account in the decision of which method should be implemented in the application.

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