Behavioral responses of dairy cows subjected to controlled voltages.

A simple technique for establishing voltage across individual cows was developed. By this technique behavioral responses to graded voltages applied across cows were monitored. Voltage across each cow, resistance of each cow, and current passing through each cow that resulted in a mild or a distinct behavioral response were noted. Most cows showed a mild response to a current of about 3 mA (which normally corresponded to a voltage across the cow of .7 V). One cow responded to a current of less than 1 mA (which corresponded to a voltage across the cow of less than .2 V). This technique represents a good stimulus paradigm for investigating effects of stray voltage.