Body size in relation to cubicle dimensions affects lying behavior and joint lesions in dairy cows

摘要

Adequate cubicle dimensions are important for dairycows to allow for species-appropriate lying behavior.Even though cow body size has increased in the last 2decades, the cubicle dimensions of housing systems builtmany years ago have not been adjusted on most farms.Therefore, cows may be impaired in their lying behaviors,and thus the present study aimed to determine theinfluence of the ratio of body size to cubicle dimensionon lying behavior and joint lesions. We investigated thelying behavior of 144 cows with withers heights of 140to 163 cm on 8 Swiss dairy farms. Among the farms,the cubicle bed length varied from 187 to 200 cm andlunge space length varied from 47 to 202 cm. Specificbehaviors of lying down and standing up movements,as well as lying positions, were observed on 3 d perfarm. As outcome variables, the occurrences of thesebehaviors were calculated as proportions in relation tothe respective total number of observations per cow.In addition, the presence of joint lesions was scoredonce. Data of the individual cows were analyzed in relationto the given cubicle dimensions on the farms bymixed-effects models. The bed length ratio [bed length(cm) on the farm/withers height (cm) of the observedcow] and the lunge space ratio [lunge space length (cm)on the farm/withers height (cm) of the observed cow]were used as explanatory variables. An increase in thebed length ratio was associated with decreased proportionsof lying down movements with (1) repeated headpendulum movements, (2) repeated stepping with frontlegs, and (3) hitting against cubicle elements; decreasedproportions of standing up movements with (1) shiftingbackward, (2) hesitant head lunge movements, and (3)hitting against cubicle elements; and an increased proportionof lying positions without physical contact withcubicle elements. An increase in the lunge space ratiowas associated with a decreased proportion of standingup movements with sideways directed head lunge movements.Furthermore, an increase in the bed length ratiodecreased the proportion of cows with tarsal joint lesions.To summarize, the lying behavior of large-framedcows was clearly modified given the cubicle dimensionsin use on the study farms. In view of the consistencyof the obtained results, we recommend adjusting thedimensions of cubicles so that they are suitable for cowswhose body size meets the breeding goals of the farm.