Gessenhardt, Christopher (2024). The Housing of Cow and Calf: An Overview of Barn Design, Management and Behaviour in Cow-Calf Housing Systems. (Thesis). Universität Bern, Bern
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24gessenhardt_c.pdf - Thesis Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY 4.0). Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Basic knowledge is lacking on the needs and behaviors of cattle in systems with cow-calf contact. This study aimed to overview cow-calf housing and management systems in Switzerland, gain insight in cows’ and calves’ behavior and barn area use, and identify potentially problematic aspects of animal welfare. A total of 45 farms with cow-calf contact were each visited once. Welfare-relevant aspects of barn construction were measured, and farmers were surveyed regarding management and their experiences. Behavioral observations were made using scan sampling (every 10 minutes over a 3-hour time span) to analyse the animals’ distribution in the barn’s functional areas. Considerable variance was found in livestock housing and management across farms. About half of the farms had drinking troughs over 60 cm in height, raising doubts about the ability of these farms’ young calves to access water. All farms had installed lying areas for calves, which varied in size, number and location. In systems with a calf creep area separated from the lying area, the number of cows lying during observation was 10% less (n = 11; 34.5%) than in systems with a calf creep area in front of the cubicles (n = 13; 44.6%; p = .063). Calves used separate calf creep areas for lying (30.0%) less than they used calf creep areas in front of the cubicles (41.4%; p = .001). This study does not provide a complete picture of cow-calf housing in Switzerland, but it contributes to generate new research questions.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
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| Dissertation Type: | Single |
| Date of Defense: | 12 September 2024 |
| Subjects: | 500 Science > 590 Animals (Zoology) 600 Technology > 630 Agriculture |
| Institute / Center: | 05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV) > Clinic for Ruminants |
| Depositing User: | Hammer Igor |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Apr 2025 13:38 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Apr 2025 13:38 |
| URI: | https://boristheses.unibe.ch/id/eprint/6029 |
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