Application of pre-partum feeding and social behaviour in predicting risk of developing metritis in crossbred cows
- 作者：Tapas Kumar Patbandha ; Tushar Kumar Mohanty ; mohanty.tushar@gmail.com ; Siddhartha Shankar Layek ; Arumugam Kumaresan ; Kumaresh Behera
- 关键词：Feeding behaviour ; Social behaviour ; Crossbred cows ; Metritis prediction
- 刊名：Applied Animal Behaviour Science
- 出版年：2012
- 期刊代码：13_01681591
- 类别：abs
- 出版时间：June, 2012
- 卷：139
- 期：1-2
- 页码：10-17
- 文件大小：351 K
摘要
The present study reports the pre-partum behaviour of crossbred cows and the behavioural markers to predict the risk of developing post-partum metritis in this species. Dry pregnant crossbred cows (n = 20) were observed continuously from 3 weeks before calving till the date of calving using video cameras. Video recordings were analysed and multiple observers were used to collect the behavioural information. General activity patterns of feeding, drinking, lying and inactive standing behaviour were studied. All the cows were followed up for health status till 21 days post-calving. Uterine fluid was collected and using a score system the cows were designated as either metritic or non-metritic (normal cows). Among the 20 experimental cows, eight developed post-partum metritis. Differences in behavioural alteration between normal and metritic cows were analysed by Mann-Whitney rank sum test. A significant difference in pre-partum feeding time and number of feeding bouts were observed between metritic and normal cows. The feeding time was significantly reduced by 25 min/d (P = 0.041) during wk 鈭? and 40 min/d (P < 0.001) during wk 鈭? in metritic cows compared to normal cows. Metritic cows had lower number of feeding bouts compared to normal cows (2 bouts/d during wk 鈭?, P = 0.01 and 2 bouts/d during wk 鈭?, P < 0.001). The metritic cows showed significantly higher inactive standing time compared to the normal cows (38.5 min/d, P = 0.016 during wk 鈭? and 89.5 min/d, P < 0.001 during wk 鈭?). However, there was no significant difference in lying behaviour between metritic and normal cows. The metritic cows were socially sub-ordinate during pre-partum period as they displaced other cows less frequently (15 vs. 18.5 displacements/d, P = 0.038) and were displaced more frequently (19 vs. 15.5 displacements/d, P = 0.025) by others. Taken together, it may be concluded from the results of present study that feeding time and feeding related displacements during the week preceding calving can accurately be used to predict the risk of developing post-partum metritis in crossbred cows.