Campler M, Munksgaard L, Jensen M B
Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, PO Box 50, 8830 Tjele, Denmark.
Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, PO Box 50, 8830 Tjele, Denmark.
J Dairy Sci. 2015 Mar;98(3):1797-804. doi: 10.3168/jds.2014-8726. Epub 2015 Jan 15.
The present study investigated how calving behavior and calf vitality in Holstein and Jersey dairy cows were affected by housing during the final 4 wk precalving. One hundred twenty-one cows (36 primiparous and 85 multiparous) were moved either to a group pen with deep straw bedding or into freestall housing 4 wk before the expected calving date. Individual straw-bedded maternity pens were placed adjacent to the straw-bedded group pens, and cows were moved to the maternity pens before calving. Cows that spent more than 12 h in the maternity pen before calving and calved unassisted were included in this study (39 multiparous cows and 15 primiparous cows). Dams were observed from 6 h before calving until 6 h after calving. The time from the onset of rhythmical abdominal contractions (defined as the onset of stage II labor), the time from a visible amniotic sac, and the time from visible calf feet until the birth of the calf were recorded. Furthermore, the cows' latency to stand up after birth was recorded. Calves were observed during the first 6 h after birth and the latency to first standing attempt, to first successful standing, to first suckle attempt, and to first successful suckling were recorded. Cows previously housed in straw pens expelled the calf faster once the calves' feet were visible compared with cows previously housed in freestalls. Multiparous cows stood sooner and licked their calf sooner after birth compared with primiparous cows. Jersey calves of cows previously housed in straw pens also stood up and suckled their dams sooner compared with Jersey calves of cows previously housed in freestalls. Holstein cows previously housed in straw pens tended to stand up sooner compared with Holstein cows previously housed in freestalls. These results suggest that a longer period of housing on deep-bedded straw compared with freestalls with mattresses before calving may facilitate the calving process, whereas the effect on calf vitality needs further investigation.
本研究调查了荷斯坦奶牛和泽西奶牛在产犊前最后4周的饲养方式如何影响其产犊行为和犊牛活力。121头奶牛（36头初产牛和85头经产牛）在预期产犊日期前4周被转移到有深厚秸秆垫料的群养栏或自由牛舍。单独的带秸秆垫料的产房紧邻带秸秆垫料的群养栏，奶牛在产犊前被转移到产房。本研究纳入了在产犊前在产房停留超过12小时且顺产的奶牛（39头经产牛和15头初产牛）。从产犊前6小时到产犊后6小时对母牛进行观察。记录从有节律的腹部收缩开始（定义为第二产程开始）的时间、从可见羊膜囊开始的时间、从可见犊牛蹄到犊牛出生的时间。此外，记录母牛产后站立的延迟时间。在犊牛出生后的前6小时对其进行观察，并记录首次站立尝试、首次成功站立、首次吮乳尝试和首次成功吮乳的延迟时间。与之前饲养在自由牛舍的奶牛相比，之前饲养在秸秆栏的奶牛在犊牛蹄可见后排出犊牛的速度更快。与初产牛相比，经产牛产后站立更快且更早舔舐犊牛。与之前饲养在自由牛舍的奶牛所产的泽西犊牛相比，之前饲养在秸秆栏的奶牛所产的泽西犊牛也更早站立并吮乳。与之前饲养在自由牛舍的荷斯坦奶牛相比，之前饲养在秸秆栏的荷斯坦奶牛往往更早站立。这些结果表明，与产犊前使用床垫的自由牛舍相比，在深厚秸秆垫料上饲养更长时间可能有助于产犊过程，而对犊牛活力的影响需要进一步研究。
