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Bernhard Hoerning presents Poster 44 during the poster sessions in the Aula.
Session theme 5: Development and improvement of welfare assessment protocols
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Poster 44
SUITABILITY OF RESTING BEHAVIOURS OF DAIRY COWS FOR ON-
FARM WELFARE ASSESMENTS
B. Hörning
Department of Organic Livestock Farming, University of Applied Sciences Eberswalde, Eberswalde,
Germany
An overview is given about ca. 40 resting behaviours of dairy cows based on an extensive literature
review (Hörning, B., 2003, Nutztierethologische Untersuchungen zur Liegeplatzqualität in
Milchviehlaufstallsystemen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung eines epidemiologischen Ansatzes,
Professorial dissertation, Univ. Kassel, Witzenhausen) and on own investigations on 64 commercial
farms with different loose housing systems and on two experiments. One experiment compared
three housing system (cubicles, straw yard, bedded sloped floor), the other 4 cubicle types (3 with
flexible partitions). Suitability of resting behaviours for an on-farm welfare assessment is judged
mainly according to validity and feasibility because information about repeatability is very limited
in the literature.
In the contribution, resting behaviours are shortly described and illustrated with photos. The
following behaviours are included. Behaviours with an asterisk are recommended for welfareprotocols.
Recommendations are given concerning the observation methods of those behaviours.
Lying: latency of entering lying area until lying down, duration of lying area control, number of
stepping before lying down*, interruptions of lying down*, lying down with hindlegs first, duration
of lying down*, hitting cubicle partitions while lying down*.
Standing up: interruptions of standing up*, standing up with forelegs first*, movements of head
sideward, duration of standing up*, latency of urinating or defecating after standing up, hitting
cubicle partitions while standing up*, standing up forced by another cow*.
Lying: lying synchrony*, number of lying periods, duration of lying periods, cubicle turnover rate,
standing with hindlegs in the alley*, lying with stretched forelegs respective hindlegs*, position to
neighboring cows, lying at the rear curb*, lying with head backward, lying with head uplifted, lying
in the alley, ruminating while lying.
Contact information: Bernhard Hoerning or email bhoerning@fh-eberswalde.de
Complete address: Department of Organic Livestock Farming, University of Applied Sciences
Eberswalde, Eberswalde, Germany
Species: Dairy cattle