Electroencephalography, behavior, and milk production in cows subjected to functional trimming and in conspecific witness

• Grant number: 25/05769-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Celidonio Pogliani
• Grantee: Beatriz Suares Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Lameness is one of the main health and welfare issues in dairy cows, impacting productivity and potentially causing chronic pain. Functional and corrective hoof trimming is an essential practice for the prevention and treatment of hoof lesions, respectively, but its execution can cause stress and discomfort. Additionally, it is still unclear whether cows who are witnesses to the procedure demonstrate empathy, which could negatively affect their welfare, behavior, and milk production. This study will investigate the influence of functional hoof trimming on brain activity, behavior, milk production, and physiological parameters of cows subjected to the procedure and witness cows. Electroencephalography (EEG) will be used to assess emotional and empathetic responses, while behavior will be analyzed through direct observation and continuous monitoring. A total of 40 Holstein cows will be evaluated, divided into experimental groups according to their exposure to the procedure. The expected results aim to provide scientific evidence on cows' emotional perception of co-specific discomfort, contributing to the development and improvement of preventive management practices to ensure animal welfare in dairy farming.