Behavioral responses of dairy heifers confined to the evaporative cooling system

Authors

  • Gianni Aguiar da Silva Instituto de Zootecnia, Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios, Secretaria da Agricultura e Abastecimento do Estado de São Paulo, Nova Odessa, SP
  • Luciandra Macedo de Toledo Instituto de Zootecnia, Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios, Secretaria da Agricultura e Abastecimento do Estado de São Paulo, Nova Odessa, SP
  • Joana Baptista Demski Instituto de Zootecnia, Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios, Secretaria da Agricultura e Abastecimento do Estado de São Paulo, Nova Odessa, SP
  • Irineu Arcaro Júnior Instituto de Zootecnia, Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios, Secretaria da Agricultura e Abastecimento do Estado de São Paulo, Nova Odessa, SP
  • Soraia Vanessa Matarazzo Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Ilhéus, BA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17523/bia.v70n3p261

Keywords:

behavior, heat stress, environmental indices, fogging, ventilation

Abstract

The research aimed to evaluate the influence of evaporative cooling system (AECS) on the behavioral variables of Holstein dairy heifers kept in confinement. Twelve heifers were used, divided into three treatments: 1) ventilation and fogging by AECS when the temperature reached 25°C at any humidity, 2) ventilation and fogging by AECS when the temperature reached 25°C with relative humidity less than or equal to 70% and, 3 without cooling system. The experimental design consisted of a latin rectangle repeated twice. The environmental variables (dry bulb temperature), black globe temperature and relative humidity were collected daily through dataloggers throughout the experiment. In behavioral analysis were observed postures (standing and lying), the activities of the animals and the places where they were in the pen, in 15 minute intervals. However, there was no difference in the behavioral variables of animals between treatments.

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Published

2013-03-29

Issue

Section

ETOLOGY AND AMBIENCE

How to Cite

Behavioral responses of dairy heifers confined to the evaporative cooling system. (2013). Bulletin of Animal Husbandry, 70(3), 261-268. https://doi.org/10.17523/bia.v70n3p261

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