Lameness and lying behavior in grazing dairy cows.

摘要: Lameness is a serious welfare issue for dairy cows. To date, the majority of studies have focused on its effect health and behavior at herd level. The objectives this study were to identify (1) between-cow (2) within-cow changes in lying associated with consistent changing lameness status grazing Previous cows not considered precipitation, so third aim was determine precipitation behavior. A total 252 from 6 pasture-based farms southern Brazil gait scored weekly assess using 5-point scale [1-5, numerical rating score (NRS)] 4 consecutive weeks. Cows if they as lame (NRS ≥3) each visits being nonlame <3) least 1 visits. classified having further developed, recovered, or inconsistent. Lying (daily time, mean bout duration, daily number bouts) recorded continuously 3 wk leg-mounted accelerometers. Cow-level variables included parity, days milk, body condition score. Regional temperature hourly. Because only primiparous cow identified visits, analysis run multiparous only. overall prevalence clinical first visit 39%, development recovery rates 16 10% over respectively. time bouts dependent precipitation; consistently had reduced rain compared without rain. There no any behaviors. Precipitation decreased increased bouts. results research provide evidence that rainfall Future work measuring should include covariate.