GRAZING BEHAVIOUR OF DAIRY COWS ON MOUNTAIN FARM
Keywords:
cattle, mountains, pasture, behaviourAbstract
The etological observation was provided on a dairy herd (65 Czech Fleckvieh and
51 Holstein cows) on a low-input mountain farm during the pasture season (April –
October 2008). The milking was provided two-times a day in the stalls. The 24-hours
observations were made four-times: in June, July, September and October, in 10-
minutes intervals. The cows spent 25 to 38 % of a day on average by feeding and 18
to 22 % on average by moving (stalls – pasture movements took about half of this
period). The resting time consisting of chewing was found unsufficient and took 29
% to 40 % of a day on average. Better comfort of cows given by an improved
milking technology and a more effective grazing management connected with longer
time spent by resting is suggested to achieve higher milk yields on the farm.
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