The importance of animal comfort in dairy cow herds

Introduction
Efficient management and suitable environment are essential factors for the health and well-being of
dairy cows. Sufficient rest has a positive effect on production, health and well-being of dairy cows. Place
of storage and structures (place shape, space available to cows, place management, Fenced area
management, milking corridor and movement paths), feed and water, health and comfort (lameness,
health of motor organs and hoof care, heat stress) are among the areas with They are important in terms
of the comfort of dairy cows and affect the well-being and behavior of cows. When it comes to animal
comfort, the most important thing to pay attention to is the daily rest of the cow. When the access to the
place is limited, the cows prefer to lie down in the corridors and this causes stress.
One of the important issues in keeping dairy cows is their density in Fenced area. In a study whose results
were published in 2016 in the journal of the American Dairy Science Association, the sleeping rate of cows
in different housing conditions was compared in terms of density. In this study, three groups of dairy cows
with densities of 82%, 100% and 129% were examined. In Fenced area, with a density of 82%, the
proportion of cows that lay down for more than 12 hours a day was higher than the other two groups.
Other studies show that the excessive density of Fenced area up to 115% has no effect on the duration of
lying down and daily rumination, while increasing the density to more than 130% leads to a decrease in
the time of lying down and reducing the time of receiving feed. On the other hand, the time There is a
direct relationship between lying down and milk production. The materials needed for milk production
reach the mammary glands through the blood stream, which is in a better position while lying down.
Therefore, the density of the spring through the effect on the duration of lying down may affect milk
production. In the free stall system, dairy cows generally lie down for about 11 hours a day. On the other
hand, with the increase of breastfeeding days, the duration of lying down increases. Of course, calving
abdomen causes interference in this process, so that cows with first abdomen in early lactation number
They lie down more often but for less time, and as they approach the end of lactation, the number of
times lying down decreases and its duration increases. The suitability of the size and bed of the free stall
and the appropriate width of the corridors also play a significant role in the duration of lying down. In a
study conducted in Canada in 2015, it was found that in free places with a height of more than 22 cm from
the floor and also in place with a sand bed, the duration of lying down increases. Also, the width of the
feeding corridor of more than 350 cm leads to the improvement of the lying time of the cows. Also, when
the width of the place is more than 114 cm, the duration of daily rest will be longer. Places with a bed of
sand with a depth of more than 2 cm make the conditions for cow resting more favorable. On the opposite
side, the rubber bed in the feeding aisle has reduced the average lying time. Basically, a change in the
behavior of resting or lying down can be related to the pain or discomfort of the animal. In fact, examining
resting behavior is not only an indicator for identifying sick cows, but can also be used as a tool to predict
cows at risk of disease.
Overall result
As a summary, it should be noted that the resting behavior of dairy cows depends on various factors such
as calving, lactation stage, herd factors related to cow lying down and standing. The amount of daily rest
of dairy cows is a very important and efficient indicator in the early identification of risk factors related to
the well-being of the herd.