Holstein milking cows behaviour and thermoregulation under fun and mist housing resources in free-stall

Author(s)

Reíssa Alves Vilela

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Pirassununga.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Zootecnica e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZE/BT)
• Defense date: 2008-12-11

Examining board members

Evaldo Antônio Lencioni Titto; Alfredo Manuel Franco Pereira; Iran José Oliveira da Silva

• Advisor: Evaldo Antônio Lencioni Titto

Abstract

This studys main goal was to evaluate the influence of resources of climatization, fun and mist, on the physiology and the behaviour of Holstein cows housed in free-stall, during Brazilian southeast summer. Was used twenty Holstein milking cows in two experiments. In Trial one the effects of fun and mist were evaluated and in Trial II the influence of fun was analyzed. The environmental parameters registered were air temperature, relative humidity, black globe temperature and rain precipitation, and subsequently was computed the black globe temperature and humidity index. The physiological parameters evaluated were rectal temperature, tail basis temperature and respiratory rate. The behavioral parameters observed were activity, posture and animal position inside of stall. The obtainment of descriptive statistical for the physiological and behavioral variables was used the minimum square method. There were no differences in the physiological variables for both phases indicating thermal comfort. The behavioral responses indicated that the behaviour study is an important tool to evaluate the animal welfare. The climatization system with fun, with or without mist, can to promote an environment with more comfort, determining behavioral changes. (AU)