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peer-reviewed Dairy cows in experimental grazing herds are often confined for metabolic measurements. The objective of this study was to establish effects of transfer from pasture, to tie-stalls in a metabolism house, then back to pasture, on lying behaviour and locomotion score of lactating cows: Holstein-Friesian (H, n = 16), Jersey (J, n = 16) and H × J (HJ, n = 16). Cows were transferred to tie-stalls on d 1 for 12 days, and were offered freshly cut ryegrass according to herbage allowance (HERB) and genotype: J low = 14; J high = 17; H and HJ low = 16; and H and HJ high = 20 kg DM/d. Lying behaviour was recorded on four days: −2, −1 (Pre-confinement), 3 (Early confinement), 10, 11 (Late confinement), 13 and 14 (Post-confinement) relative to transfer (d 1) using dataloggers, and was also video-recorded during the first 15 h. Locomotion score was recorded on days −4, −3, 12 and 16. No effects of HERB on lying variables were observed during the first 15 h in confinement, but J cows made more lying intentions (21.0 vs. 12.2; P < 0.05) and tended (P = 0.07) to have a shorter latency to lie. Cows spent less (P < 0.001) time lying in early confinement (07:22:29 h/d) than on any of the other occasions (9:12:50 h/d). Cows had more (P < 0.001) and shorter (P < 0.001) lying bouts in confinement than while at pasture. Low HERB cows spent more time lying than high HERB cows (09:54:55 vs. 09:09:33 h/d; P < 0.01). J had higher locomotion scores than H (9.2 ± 0.2 vs.7.8 ± 0.2; P < 0.001), and tended (P = 0.09) to have higher scores than HJ (8.5 ± 0.2) cows. Locomotion scores were lowest pre confinement, highest at turnout (d 12), and intermediate after that at pasture (d 16) (7.6 ± 0.2, 9.3 ± 0.2 and 8.6 ± 0.3, respectively; P < 0.01). On transfer to the metabolism house cows showed disrupted patterns of lying although daily lying time returned to levels similar to pasture by late confinement. Confinement also resulted in a short-term deterioration in locomotory ability, which although improving, was still evident 4 days following the cows return to pasture with Jersey cows being more affected than the other genotypes. These findings suggest that longer adaptation periods and temporary release to loafing areas may improve both the validity of data collected and cow welfare.

In temperate climates where cows are primarily managed at pasture shortages of grass could result in nutritional deficits for the cow and thus pose a challenge to her welfare. This study investigated the effect of daily herbage allowance (DHA) on dairy cow lying behaviour, locomotory ability, and some aspects of hoof health. Ninety-six cows were randomly assigned to one of eight treatments in a 2 × 4 factorial design; experimental duration (2 week (2 W) or 6 week (6 W)), and nutritional levels (DHA) (60%, 80%, 100% or 120% of intake capacity). Cows were assigned to treatment on 25 March (36 ± 16 days in milk). Lying behaviour was recorded using modified voltage dataloggers over 7 × 24 h periods at approximately 4 d intervals for cows on the 6 W treatments. Locomotory ability (including overall locomotion, ab/adduction, tracking, speed, head carriage and spine curvature scores) was assessed four times at approximately 16 d intervals. Hoof health (heel erosion and dermatitis scores) were recorded in the milking parlour on four occasions at approximately 19 d intervals. Although there was no effect on daily lying time, DHA tended to affect the duration of lying bouts (P = 0.1). Cows allocated the highest DHA (120%) had shorter bouts than all other treatments (P = 0.05), whereas cows allocated the lowest DHA (60%) had fewer lying bouts than all other treatments (P

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of providing paper or rope, alternative enriching substrates to straw, to piglets in farrowing crates on piglet and sow welfare. Sixty multiparous sows and their litters were housed in crates that were either barren (BARREN), enriched with shredded paper (PAPER) or natural fibre rope (ROPE). Enriching substrates were introduced when piglets were 10 days old. The proportion of sows with udder and teat lesions before parturition and at weaning was recorded. Piglet facial lesions were scored according to severity on days 11, 18 and 27. Sow and piglet behaviour was recorded using scan sampling on days 14, 18, 22 and 26. Furthermore, the behaviour of one male and one female focal piglet per litter was recorded continuously for 10 min twice per day on days 14, 18, 22 and 26. On day 27 post-partum, focal piglets were observed for 5 min in a novel arena and for a further 5 min after a novel object was introduced. On day 27, there was a tendency for more BARREN sows to have teat lesions ( P = 0.07). PAPER litters tended to have a smaller proportion of piglets with facial lesions ( P = 0.06). ROPE piglets were active in the enriched area of the crate in more observations than BARREN and PAPER piglets ( P P P P P = 0.05). In conclusion, shredded paper improved piglet welfare and was easily incorporated into the farrowing crates.

Teeth resection is a method of controlling the injurious effects of the aggression displayed when newborn piglets fight to establish a teat order. Recent European legislation discourages the practice. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of clipping and grinding piglets’ needle teeth, compared to leaving them intact, on the welfare of piglets in farrowing crates. Six days pre-partum, 60 sows were assigned to one of three treatments. Litters had their teeth clipped (C), ground (G) or left intact (I) at birth. The time taken to carry out each procedure was recorded. Piglet weights and facial lesions, which were scored according to severity, were recorded on days 1, 4, 11, 18 and 27. Piglet weights were also recorded at birth. Mouth lesions were recorded on days 1, 4 and 27. Instantaneous scan samples of piglet behaviour were carried out for 30 min post-teeth resection procedure (1 min intervals), and for 6 h on days 1, 4, 8, 14, 21 and 26 (5 min intervals). One male and one female piglet per litter were chosen as focal animals and observed for 5 min each post-procedure and for 10 min each twice per day on days 1, 5, 12, 20 and 26. Mortalities were recorded throughout lactation. Grinding took significantly longer than clipping the teeth or leaving them intact (F = 638.87, P In conclusion, although all three options were associated with welfare problems, grinding can be recommended in preference to clipping or leaving the teeth intact.

Recent EU legislation discourages the practice of resecting piglets’ needle teeth. However, the effect of leaving piglets’ teeth intact on the welfare of sows in farrowing crates is poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare the effects of clipping and grinding piglets’ needle teeth, compared to leaving them intact, on the welfare of sows in farrowing crates. Six days pre-partum 60 multiparous sows were assigned to one of three treatments. Litters had their teeth clipped (C), ground (G) or left intact (I) at birth. Sows’ teats were inspected for lesions pre-partum (day −3) and on days 1, 4, 11, 18 and 27 post-partum. Instantaneous scan samples (5 min intervals) of sow behaviour were carried out during three 2 h periods on days 1, 4, 8, 14, 21 and 26. On days 1, 4 and 11 all piglets were removed from the crate for 60 min. On re-introduction of the piglets, sow maternal behaviour was recorded continuously for 20 min. The number of sows with teat lesions tended to differ between treatments on days 11 (P = 0.06) and 18 (P = 0.10). There was an interactive effect between treatment and day on sow dog-sitting behaviour throughout lactation (P There were indications that leaving the teeth intact and to a lesser extent grinding caused injury and disturbance to sows. In farrowing crates, leaving piglets’ teeth intact cannot be recommended.