Time Budget |
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Cows value lying time and it is considered a highly priority behavior that likely confers health benefits, especially in free stalls systems, where the alternative is standing on wet concrete. The opportunity to lie down on a given farm, through facility- and protocol-based measures, may be the best way to gauge if cow motivation to lie down can be fulfilled. Opportunities to lie down are affected by facility- and protocol-based measures, along with management of how cows spend their time. Cows lose opportunities to rest during milking or while restrained in headlocks.
How to assess:
Record the number of hours the pen scored for locomotion was away from the pen for milking and multiply by the number of times a day cows are milked. Total milking time per day should be less than 4 hours.
Important considerations about moving freely are also covered in: ability to turn around, stocking density, tiestall release and trainers, and exercise.
Important considerations about moving freely are also covered in: ability to turn around, stocking density, tiestall release and trainers, and exercise.
There is currently no repeatability test for this measure.