Behaviour of cows at the feeding trough when entering the milking parlour, department of animal breeding

摘要

Observations were made during 2 X 3 days on the behaviour of 29 Holstein-Friesian cows when entering the milking parlour at the feeding trough. The cows were identified by an electric apparatus on their necks, and by transmitters at the feeding trough in the milking station. Milking was done using Alfa Laval milking apparatus with 2 X 4 milking stalls and an automatic cup- remover. Rank correlation coefficients were calculated between the entrance order and the most important production characteristics. There was no correlation between the entrance order to the milking parlour and the dominance order at the feeding trough. The younger cows were dominant when entering the milking parlour, but the older and heavier cows dominated at the feeding troug