Behavior of Murrah buffaloes under influence of strangers in the milk parlor during milk control

Behavior of Murrah buffaloes under influence of strangers in the milk parlor during milk control

ABSTRACT

Objective. The study was carried out in two farms, located in São Sebastião do Passé, Bahia, Brazil, during the three first months of lactation of 81 female buffaloes, to observe if stranger people at milk parlor could affect the milk production. Materials and methods. Four strangers were at the milking parlor during the milking time to observe the following parameters: Duration of Stay in the Milking Parlor; Milking Period; Rumination; Defecation; Urination Reactivity; Stress Level; Side Preference in the Milking Parlor ; Milk Yield, and Post Control Milk Yield. The females were categorized as 1=primiparous, 2=pluriparous, and 3=when information about calving number was not available. The data were analyzed using SAS Statistical Package. Results. During the presence of four strangers at the milking parlor, it was observed that the mean value for Duration of Stay in the Milking Parlor was 23 minutes (varying from 12 to 38 minutes). Average Milking Period was 8 minutes (varying from 4 to 13 minutes). Average Milk Yield during observation days (MY) varied from 2.30 kg to 14.70 kg, with an average value of 7.70±2.60 kg, while Mean Milk Yield after the observation days was 8.600±2.70 kg. Conclusions. As far as Post Control Milk Yield, since the animals presented increased milk yield in both farms on the days following the observations, it is possible to assert that the presence of strangers in the milk parlor during milk control reduced milk yield only during the day of observation, with no adverse effects on subsequent milk production.

1. Sethi RK. Buffalo improvement program in India. Rev Vet 2010; 21(1):5.
3. Ramos AA, Malhado CHM, Carneiro PLS, Azêvedo DMMR, Gonçalves HC. Caracterização fenotípica e genética da produção de leite e do intervalo entre partos em bubalinos da raça Murrah. Pesq Agropec Bras 2006; 41(8):1261-1267. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-204X2006000800008
5. Jorge AM. Produção de carne bubalina. Rev Bras de Reprod Anim 2005; 29(2):84-95.
7. Cassiano LAP, Mariante NA. Parâmetros genéticos das características produtivas e reprodutivas de búfalos na Amazônia. Pesq Agropec Bras 2004; 39(5):451-457. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-204X2004000500007
9. Garcia AR. Influência de fatores ambientais sobre as características reprodutivas de búfalos do rio (Bubalus bubalis). Rev de Ciênc Agrár 2006; 45:1-13.
11. Bernardes O. Bubalinocultura no Brasil: situação e importância econômica. Rev Bras Reprod Anim 2007; 31:293-298.
13. Dawkins, MS. A user's guide to animal welfare Science. Trends Ecol Evol 2006; 21:77-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2005.10.017
15. Paranhos Da Costa MJR, Broom DM. Consistency of side choice in the milking parlour by Holstein-Friesian cows and its relationship with their reactivity and milk yield. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2001; 70(3):177-186. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(00)00158-1
17. Hanna D, Sneddon IA, Beattie VE. The relationship between the stock person's personality and attitudes and the productivity of dairy cows. Animal 2009; 3:737–743. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1751731109003991
19. Hötzel MJ, Gomes CCM, Machado Filho LCP. Comportamento de vacas leiteiras submetidas a um manejo aversivo. Biotemas 2009; 22:135-140. http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2009v22n1p135
21. Hötzel MJ, Machado Filho LCP, Yunes MC, Silveira MCAC. An aversive milker causes fear, but does not influence milk yield of Holstein cows. Braz J Anim Sci 2005; 34:1278-1284.
23. Honorato LA, Hötzel MJ. A interação humano-animal e o uso de homeopatia no manejo sanitário de rebanhos leiteiros em pequenas propriedades no Sul do Brasil. Rev Bras de Agroec 2012; 7(2):77-86.
25. SAS. Statistical Analysis System - SAS Version 9.0, 13th ed. Cary: Statistical Analysis System Institute; 2004.
27. Peters MDP, Barbosa Silveira ID, Pinheiro Machado Filho LC, Machado AA, Pereira LMR. Manejo aversivo em bovinos leiteiros e efeitos no bem-estar, comportamento e aspectos produtivos. Arch Zootec 2010; 59(227):435-442. http://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922010000300011
29. Breuer K, Hemsworth PH, Coleman GJ. The effect of positive or negative handling on the behavioural and physiological responses of non lactating heifers. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2003; 84(1):3-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(03)00146-1
31. Costa JHC, Hötzel MJ, Longo C, Balcão LF. A survey of management practices that influence production and welfare of dairy cattle on family farms in southern Brazil. J Dairy Res 2013; 96(1):307-317. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2012-5906
33. Broom DM, Molento CFM. Bem-estar animal: conceito e questões relacionadas – revisão. Arch Vet Sci 2004: 9:1-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/avs.v9i2.4057
35. Molento CFM. Bem-estar animal: qual é a novidade? Acta Sci Vet 2007; 35(2):224-226.
37. Grasso F, De Rosa G, Napolitano F, Di Francia A, Bordi A. Entrance order and side preference of dairy cows in the milking parlour. Ital J Anim Sci 2007; 6:187-194. http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2007.187
39. Marcondes CR, Andréa MV, Oliveira KN, Oliveira RS, Macedo Junior CM, Cerqueira RS et Al. Side Preference in the Milking Parlor Among Murrah Buffaloes in the Recôncavo of Bahia, Brazil. Rev Vet 2010; 21(1):598-599.
41. Alves BG, Silva TH, Igarasi MS. Manejo de ordenha. PUBVET 2013: 7(6): Art. 1514. URL Disponible en: http://www.pubvet.com.br/artigos_imp.asp?artigo=1402
43. Lewis NJ, Hurnik J F. The effect of some common management practices on the ease of handling of dairy cows. Appl Anim Behav Sci 1998; 58:213-220. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(97)00150-0
45. Honorato LA, Hötzel MJ, Gomes CCM, Silveira IDB, Pinheiro Machado Filho LC. Particularidades relevantes da interação humano-animal para o bem-estar e produtividade de vacas leiteiras. Cienc Rural 2012; 42(2):332-339.
47. Watters RD, Schuring N, Erb HN, Schukken TH, Galton DM. The effect of premilking udder preparation on Holstein cows milked 3 times daily. J Dairy Sci 2012; 95:1170-1176. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2011-4388
49. Waiblinger S, Mulleder C, Schmied C, Dembele I. Assessing the animals' relationship to humans in tied dairy cows: between-experimenter repeatability of measuring avoidance reactions. Anim Welf 2007; (16):143-146.
51. Breazile, JE. The Physiology of Stress and Its Relationship to mechanisms of Disease and therapeutics. Vet Clin N Am: Food Anim Prac 1988; 4:441–480. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0720(15)31025-2