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Pasture access and eye temperature in dairy cows.
- Source :
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science; Apr-Jun2024, Vol. 27 Issue 2, p234-242, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Pasture access can benefit dairy cows' behavior, health, and welfare, but herds are increasingly housed indoors full-time. Recent infrared thermal-imaging (thermography) studies suggest that higher eye temperatures may be a physiological indicator of chronic stress. We, therefore, hypothesized that, compared to cows with pasture access, cows housed indoors full-time would have higher eye temperatures. In a two-phase crossover experiment, 29 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows experienced 18 days of overnight pasture access and 18 days of full-time indoor housing. We measured each animal's eye temperature 16 times (eight/phase). During Phase One, cows with pasture access had higher eye temperatures than cows housed indoors full-time (contrary to our hypothesis). However, during Phase Two, cows with pasture access had lower eye temperatures than cows housed indoors full-time. It is, therefore, unclear whether eye temperature reflected disparities in dairy cow welfare between different housing treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10888705
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 176211627
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2022.2063020