Stall and Feed Bunk Stocking Rates Impact Cows ’ Diurnal Behavior and Activity in Automatic Milking Systems

High stall stocking rates have been shown to alter behavior of cows in parlor-milked systems; however, no studies have examined stocking rates for cows milked with automatic milking systems (AMS). Therefore, we examined the influence of stall and feed bunk overstocking on cows ’ behavior, displacements, cows’ activity and rumination time in an AMS dairy farm. Each of two pens contained 60 cows/pen and 58 free-stalls and 60 headlocks. The effect of stocking rate was examined using three treatments applied separately to stalls and feed bunks (100% = 58 stalls or 60 head locks available for 60 cows; 120% = 50 stalls or 50 headlocks available for 60 cows; 150% = 40 stalls or 40 headlocks available for 60 cows).
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Source Type: research