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The present observational study assessed the effect of deep straw bedding compared to cubicles during the dry period on lying-, feeding- and agonistic behaviour in Holstein cows. A total of 74 primi- (heifers) and multiparous cows were moved either onto deep straw bedding (DS) or into cubicle housing (CS) 4 wk before the expected calving date and were observed for 21 consecutive days. Throughout the 21 d lying time and the number of lying bouts were recorded using automated accelerometers while feeding time, the number of feeder visits and feed intake was recorded using automatic feed bins. All variables were averaged by week. The transition time from lying to standing was obtained by averaging five randomly selected standing up events on d 7 prior to the actual calving date while the number of failed standing attempts was obtained by following the cows standing up bouts throughout all of d 7 prior to the actual calving date. The frequency of agonistic behaviour was obtained from 7 h of continuous video recordings on d 21 and 7 (or 8) before the actual calving date. Lying time was not affected by treatment but DS cows had a higher number of lying bouts and a shorter transition time between lying and standing compared to CS cows. Primiparous cows had a higher number of lying bouts compared to multiparous cows. There were no treatment differences in feeding behaviour but multiparous cows spent more time feeding and increased their feed intake more across weeks compared to primiparous cows. Cows housed in DS initiated more agonistic behaviour compared to CS cows at d 7 (or 8) before calving while no difference between treatments was seen at 21 d before calving. These results suggest that deep straw bedding facilitates the transition between lying and standing but may increase agonistic behaviour.

Lambs are commonly weaned around 60 d of age in the Eastern United States, but this age is also a time for lambs to apply long-term feeding strategies learned from adult animals. There is minimal evidence on how weaning strategies may affect long-term adaptation of feeding behavior. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of social and environmental factors at weaning on short- (3 d post-weaning) and long-term (8 wk post-weaning) feeding, lying, and standing idle behavior of lambs on pasture or in a feedlot. Two experiments tested this objective: Experiment 1 investigated social dynamics at time of weaning for lambs housed on pasture, and Experiment 2 investigated the effect of weaning into a feedlot compared to a pasture environment. At 60 d of age, 72 crossbred twin lambs were assigned to one of four treatments: lambs weaned and placed with similar-aged lambs onto pasture (W); lambs weaned and placed with similar-aged lambs and non-related adult ewes onto pasture (SF); lambs that remained with their dam on pasture (E); and lambs weaned and placed with similar-aged lambs into a feedlot (FL). Each treatment had three replicates with six lambs/replicate. Behavioral data were collected with instantaneous scan sampling for 15 h/d for 55 d. During the first 3 d after weaning in Experiment 1, W lambs spent more time standing than SF lambs (P = 0.03), and all lambs decreased standing idle time over the 3 d (P 0.05). When the time-budgets of lambs from both experiments were compared, W lambs spent 39.2% more time grazing compared to the amount of time that FL lambs spent feeding. Results suggest that keeping non-related adult ewes (SF) with weaned lambs did not influence the grazing and lying behavior of lambs on pasture. Lambs that stayed with their dams and were weaned later (E) had the lowest grazing time, likely because they are still receiving milk. Lambs in the feedlot environment increased their time spent feeding in the first few days, suggesting an initial adaptation to stress after weaning.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of rubber lying mats on sow behavior, production and litter performance throughout lactation. In total, 213 multiparous, late gestation, group housed sows were enrolled in the study after being blocked by parity and classified as lame or non-lame. Sows were randomly allocated to treatments; a farrowing crate with a perforated rubber lying mat (R), or a farrowing crate with standard metal slatted flooring (C). Sow behavior, lesion scores, sow weight, and body condition measurements were obtained once weekly over the course of 4 weeks around the farrowing event (1 week prior until 3 weeks post farrowing day). Piglet weights were recorded during the weeks of farrowing and weaning. Wean to estrus intervals and piglet mortality data were obtained post-hoc via records from the farm's computer database PigKnows®. Sows housed on the R treatment spent an increased proportion of time spent standing (P = 0.02) and tended to spend a lower proportion of their time spent lying (P = 0.07). Sows that were housed on R treatment weaned piglets with lower body weights when compared sows housed on C treatment (P 0.05). In conclusion, rubber mats did not affect behavior of lame or non-lame sows during lactation but impacted weaning weights and total piglet mortality due to crushing. Further research evaluating alternative flooring during the farrowing and lactation period is needed in order to improve sow comfort and longevity while protecting piglet health and viability.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentrations of moxidectin in the plasma and milk of lactating ewes and in the plasma of their nursing lamb. Four, single lamb bearing Border Leister x Dorset ewes were administered a single oral dose of moxidectin (0.2 mg/kg). Plasma and milk samples were collected nine times within the first 72 h and at 30 and 60 d post anthelmintic administration. Samples were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. A pharmacokinetic analysis of moxidectin was conducted on ewe plasma and resulted in a CMAX of 13.1 ng/mL at 8.2 h (TMAX). Ewe milk and lamb plasma samples were reported descriptively. Three of the four ewes on trial demonstrated quantifiable levels of moxidectin in milk at baseline sampling. Ewe milk samples reached an average peak concentration of 151.1 ng/mL 12 h post administration. Moxidectin levels were detected up to 60 d in all milk samples. Lamb plasma samples reached an average peak concentration of 2.8 ng/mL 24 h post administration to the ewe. Results from the current study demonstrate that orally administrated moxidectin is carried over into the milk and evident in the plasma of nursing lambs. Further research is needed in order to understand how moxidectin concentrations and exposure time influences the fetus and nursing lamb in regards to the development of anthelmintic resistance.

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is an important disorder in dairy cattle with economic and animal welfare implications. A preventive strategy for SARA control is oral drenching of probiotics, such as Megasphaera elsdenii. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a M. elsdenii oral drench on reticulorumen pH, milk yield and components, and feeding behavior of lactating cows under a SARA challenge. This study consisted of two crossover trials with 8 cows each to determine the efficacy of drenching live culture of M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125. Experimental period of each trial lasted 8 d with a 4 wk washout interval between periods. The first 3 d of each period were considered baseline days. On day 4 of the period, feed delivered was reduced by half, based upon individual mean dry matter intake (DMI) during the baseline period. On day 5 of the period, all cows received a challenge diet rich in highly fermentable carbohydrates offered to the cows for 2 h to induce SARA. Orts were weighed and replaced with regular diet offered ad libitum. The last 3 d of each experimental period were considered recovery days. The difference between each trial was the administration time of M. elsdenii drench, where in Trial 1 it was delivered 4 d before (PRO-4) and in Trial 2 it was delivered the day before (PRO-1) the SARA challenge. Cows were randomly assigned to either a treatment (PRO-4 or PRO-1) or control (CON-4 or CON-1) drench, and reversed on the subsequent period. During Trial 1, PRO-4 cows produced more milk (P 0.10). In Trial 2, only feeding time was affected by the treatment, with PRO-1 cows spending more minutes per day feeding (P