A Comparison of Dairy Cattle Behavioural Patterns at Pasture and during Confinement

Behaviour studies were carried out on spring calving dairy cows in mid-gestation with an age range of 4 to 12 years. Comparisons were made between the behaviour patterns in confinement and at pasture in both the duration and distribution of various activities. An ethogram for various activities was established for cows at pasture. The cow's day was largely divided into the time spent feeding, lying down and ruminating. Marked differences in the temporal distribution and level of these behavioural activities were observed during confinement. The distribution of feeding times and activity levels were substantially altered by the constrained conditions of confinement. The cows were more restless indoors than at pasture; this affected their lying behaviour. This, in turn, disrupted the ruminating behaviour during confinement. Evidence of social hierarchy was shown and the hierarchies at pasture and indoors were significantly different. Of the physiological and morphological factors examined, age was found to be the most important determinant of rank. Agonistic behaviour was found to increase, and benign interactions to decrease during confinement. Possible explanations for these differences are proposed and possible consequences discussed. It is suggested that minimisation of these behavioural differences should be one of the major goals of good management practice.