Behaviour Management of Dairy Cows

Question 1

Describe wild cattle

Answer 1

Question 2

How are cattle organised in dairy cow systems?

Answer 2

Standard grouping - All adult & All juvenile female groups

Question 3

How do you know that cattle are prey animals that live in herds?

Answer 3

Question 4

Describe dairy cow social behaviour in groups

Answer 4

Question 5

What are the two different social interactions?

Answer 5

Affiliative or Agonistic

Question 6

Give an example of dairy cows exhibiting agonistic interaction

Answer 6

Head-head pushing

Question 7

Give an example of dairy cows exhibiting affiliative interaction

Answer 7

Social licking (allogrooming)

Question 8

What are the problems that arise from a loose housing system?

Answer 8

Question 9

What are the consequences of overstocking a loose housing system?

Answer 9

Question 10

Why do we foot bathe cows?

Answer 10

Question 11

What disinfectants is added to the foot-bath?

Answer 11

Question 12

What are things you need to think of when designing your foot bath?

Answer 12

Question 13

What don’t cows like?

Answer 13

Question 14

What do cows like?

Answer 14

Question 15

Why do cows need to lie down? (Cubicles)

Answer 15

Question 16

Describe the social behaviour of cows + how that relates§ to resources

Answer 16

Question 17

What is the consequences of overstocking of cubicles?

Answer 17

Question 18

What bedding to cows prefer?

Answer 18

Question 19

What could a cow be telling us if there are lesions on their knees or hocks?

Answer 19

Question 20

What is a cow telling us if only their front feet are in the cubicle?

Answer 20

Cubicles may be too short or narrow

Question 21

What is a cow telling us if they are dog sitting for several minutes before getting up?

Answer 21

May not be enough lunge for cow to exhibit normal rising behaviour - place a lunging bar in front of them to stop them from going too far to allow them to stand up smoothly