Table 40.
Farm hazards affecting social behaviour in cubicle systems
| Hazards | Variable | Analysis (a) | Effect | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space allowance | ||||
| Increased space allowance in OLA (b) | Agonistic interaction (n/h) | MA | ↓ | Lutz et al. (2019) |
| Agonistic interaction without body contact (%) | MA | ↑ | ||
| Space allowance in OLA (b) | Successful head butt (%) | MA | ↑/↓ (c) | |
| Lower cow:cubicle ratio | Displacement (n/h) | MA | ↓ | de Vries et al. (2015) |
| Stocking density | ||||
| Overstocking density (d) (150% vs. 100%) | Behaviour synchrony (Kappa) | MA | ↓ | Winckler et al. (2015) |
| Overstocking density at feed bunk (200% vs. 100%) | Displacement from feed place (n/h) | MA | ↑ | Collings et al. (2011) |
| Increased stocking density (d) (100%, 113%, 131%, 142%) | Displacement from feed place (n/2 h) | UA | ↑ | Krawczel et al. (2012) |
| Understocking density (d) (75% vs. 100%) | Head butt at feed place (n/2 h) | MA | ↑ | Winckler et al. (2015) |
| Displacement from cubicle (n/2 h) | MA | ↓ | ||
| Understocking density (d) (80% vs. 100%) | Displacement from feed place (n/3 h) | MA | ↓ | Lobeck‐Luchterhand et al. (2015) |
| Decreased stocking density (d) | Displacement from feed place (n/3 h) | MA | ↓ | Talebi et al. (2014) |
| Others | ||||
| No cow brushes (vs. rotating brushes) | Displacement (n/h) | MA | ↓ | de Vries et al. (2015) |
| Heifer integration before calving (vs. after calving) | Displacement (n/h) | MA | ↓ | de Vries et al. (2015) |
| Increased manure scraping frequency | Displacement (n/h) | MA | ↓ | de Vries et al. (2015) |
| Ad libitum roughage availability | Displacement (n/h) | MA | ↑ | de Vries et al. (2015) |
| Restricted access to feed | Displacement from feed place (n/h) | MA | ↑ | Collings et al. (2011) |
| Increased group size | Displacement from feed place (n/3 h) | MA | ↑ | Talebi et al. (2014) |
↑/↓ = significantly higher/lower (p < 0.05). The colour of the sign (red or green) indicates whether the effect is considered positive from an animal welfare perspective (green) or negative (red). Arrows in black reflect an unclear interpretation of the effect from a welfare perspective.
Statistical analysis: MA = multivariable analysis (in the case of univariable preselection of factors, only effects of the final models were considered).
OLA = outdoor loafing area (5, 8, 12, 15 m2/cow).
Percentage of successful head butts increased with an increase in space allowance up to 12 m2/cow in the OLA, but decreased with 15 m2.
Stocking density expressed in cows/cubicle (e.g. 150% means 1.5 cow/cubicle).