Stall and feed bunk stocking rates impact cows' diurnal behavior and activity in automatic milking system farms

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 (AMSs). 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 2 pens contained 60 cows/pen, 58 free stalls, and 60 headlocks. The effect of stocking rate was examined using 3 treatments applied separately to stalls and feed bunks (100%  = 58 stalls or 60 headlocks available for 60 cows; 120% = 50 stalls or 50 headlocks available for 60 cows; and 150% = 40 stalls or 40 headlocks available for 60 cows).
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Tags: Bovine Research Source Type: research