Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
J Dairy Sci. 2023 Oct;106(10):7191-7202. doi: 10.3168/jds.2022-23176. Epub 2023 May 18.
The objectives of this study were to determine how dairy cow personality traits affect their adaptation to an automated milking system (AMS) upon parturition, as well as whether these personality traits are consistent across the transition from gestation to lactation. Sixty Holstein dairy cows (19 primiparous and 41 multiparous) were assessed for personality traits using a combined arena test conducted at 24 d before parturition and 24 d after first introduction to an AMS, which occurred ∼3 d after parturition. The combined arena test comprised 3 parts: a novel arena test, a novel object test, and a novel human test. Principal component analysis of the behaviors recorded during the personality assessment revealed 3 factors interpreted as personality traits (75% cumulative variance) in the pre-calving test, interpreted as explore, active, and bold. The post-calving test revealed 2 factors (78% cumulative variance), interpreted as active and explore. Data from d 1 to 7 after introduction to the AMS were summarized by cow and associated with the pre-calving factors, and data from d 21 to 27 after introduction to the AMS were summarized by cow and associated with the post-calving factors. The active trait had a moderate positive correlation between the pre- and post-calving tests, whereas exploration had a weak positive correlation between tests. Cows that scored high for activeness in the pre-calving test tended to have fewer fetching events and a higher coefficient of variation of milk yield in the first 7 d after introduction to the AMS, whereas bolder cows tended to have higher milk yield during that period. In the post-calving test, more active cows tended to have more frequent milkings and voluntary visits per day, as well as a lower cumulative milk yield from d 21 to 27 after introduction to the AMS. Overall, these results indicate that personality traits of dairy cows are associated with adaptation and performance in an AMS, and that personality traits are consistent across the transition period. Specifically, cows that scored high for boldness and activeness adapted better to the AMS immediately after calving, whereas cows that scored low for activeness and high for boldness performed better in terms of milk yield and milking activity in early lactation. This study demonstrates that personality traits affect milking activity and milk yield of dairy cows milked with an AMS and, therefore, may be useful for selection of cows who might best adapt to and use an AMS.
本研究的目的是确定奶牛的个性特征如何影响其在分娩后对自动化挤奶系统（AMS）的适应，以及这些个性特征是否在从妊娠到泌乳的过渡期间保持一致。使用在分娩前 24 天和第一次引入 AMS 后 24 天进行的组合竞技场测试，对 60 头荷斯坦奶牛（19 头初产和 41 头经产）进行个性特征评估。组合竞技场测试由 3 部分组成：新竞技场测试、新物体测试和新人类测试。在预产测试中，对记录的行为进行主成分分析，揭示了 3 个可解释为个性特征的因素（75%的累积方差），解释为探索、活跃和大胆。产后测试揭示了 2 个因素（78%的累积方差），解释为活跃和探索。对引入 AMS 后第 1 至 7 天的数据进行了汇总，按牛进行了汇总，并与产前因素相关联，对引入 AMS 后第 21 至 27 天的数据进行了汇总，并与产后因素相关联。活跃的特征在产前和产后测试之间具有中度正相关，而探索性测试之间则具有微弱的正相关。在预产测试中表现活跃的奶牛在引入 AMS 的头 7 天内往往Fetching 事件较少，产奶量变异系数较高，而大胆的奶牛在该期间产奶量较高。在产后测试中，更活跃的奶牛每天更频繁地挤奶和自愿访问，并且从引入 AMS 后第 21 至 27 天的累积产奶量较低。总的来说，这些结果表明奶牛的个性特征与 AMS 的适应和性能相关，并且在过渡期间保持一致。具体而言，在产犊后立即对 AMS 适应较好的奶牛，评分较高的奶牛得分较高，而在产犊后立即对 AMS 适应较好的奶牛，评分较低的奶牛评分较高，在泌乳早期的产奶量和挤奶活动方面表现更好。这项研究表明，个性特征会影响使用 AMS 挤奶的奶牛的挤奶活动和产奶量，因此可能有助于选择最能适应和使用 AMS 的奶牛。
