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A note on relations between oral stereotypies in dairy cows and milk production, health and age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

I. Redbo ,
K. G. Jacobsson ,
C. van Doorn  and
G. Pettersson
I. Redbo
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Kungsängens Research Station, S-753 23 Uppsala, Sweden
K. G. Jacobsson
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Kungsängens Research Station, S-753 23 Uppsala, Sweden
C. van Doorn
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Husbandry, Wageningen Agricultural University, 6709 PG Wageningen, The Netherlands
G. Pettersson
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Kungsängens Research Station, S-753 23 Uppsala, Sweden
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Abstract

The relationships of oral stereotypies to milk production and health were investigated in 95 dairy cows that had completed between one and five lactations. Forty cows in the herd performed stereotypies, mainly tongue-rolling and to a lesser extent bar-biting. A significant positive relation was found between the dependent variable milk production and stereotypies (P < 0·05) according to a GLM-model also containing lactation group (age; P < 0·01), sire (breeding value for milk yield; P < 0·01), and health I ailments (P > 0·05). There was no correlation between different phases in lactation and the frequency of stereotypies (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0·124; no. = 0·40; P > 0·05).

Keywords

behaviourdairy cowshealthmilk yield
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 54 , Issue 1 , February 1992 , pp. 166 - 168
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1992

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References

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