Animal activity and welfare of suckler cows grazing during hot and cold days on fen grassland in northeast Germany

摘要

In east Germany, the number of heat days (>30°C) will be three to four times higher by the end of this century compared with 1961-1990. Such high temperatures are far above the temperature optimum for cattle and can cause depressions of health, fertility and performance. In a grazing experiment suckler cows were equipped with collars and ruminal transmitters, measuring the GPS position and different physiological data of the animals over the grazing season. Characteristics of animal behaviour were described and compared to the weather conditions. During hot days, the heart rate of the grazing cows increased. They decreased moving over the pasture and changed their activity rhythm. The cows were able to limit a temperature increase of the body surface and reduced the rumen temperature presumably by increasing their water consumption.