Modulation of the Standing Behavior for Managing Elevated Somatic Cell Count (SCC) in Dairy Cows

Aim: To examine the effect of feed-offer time on standing and lying behaviors to manage Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and reduce risk of subclinical mastitis (SCM) in tie stall dairy cows.

Study Design: Completely Randomized Design (5 treatments × 4 replications)

Place and Duration of the Study: National Cow Research Program, Chitwan, Nepal; from September, 2019 to March, 2020 for 180 days.

Methodology: Twenty SCM-free dairy cows were recruited on different feeding strategies (pre-milking, during milking, and post-milking feeding at varying intervals). Behavioral patterns (lying time, bout frequencies and duration, post-milking standing duration/PMSD) were obtained using pedometer and SCC by autoanalyzer fortnightly. The feeding strategy effect on behavioral outlines and SCC was analyzed for univariate ANOVA by SPSS packages (version 25). The relationship between behavioral patterns and SCC were performed by Pearsons Correlation analysis.

Results: Immediate post-milking feeding (+iPMF) cows showed higher lying time (P=.003) and bout duration (P=.001) while the number of lying bout was higher (P=.001) in pre-milking feeding (-10PMF). The PMSD was logged higher (P=.001) in +iPMF than in -10PMF and during-milking feeding cows but was similar with other post-milking feeding groups. Additionally, immediate and 15-minute post-milking feeding (+15PMF) resulted significantly lower SCC at both teat (P=.001, .005) and udder levels (P=.001) and are consistently associated with longer standing time after milking, suggesting decreased risk of SCM. Furthermore, post-milking standing duration showed significant but negative relationship with SCC of fore teats (P=.001; r=-0.26) and at udder level (P=.001; r=-0.298) while it was negative and non-significant with hind teats (r=-0.09 in LH and r=-0.06 in RH).

Conclusion: Post-milking feeding strategies, +iPMF and +15PMF, have the potential to improve dairy cow welfare and udder health by modulating behavioral patterns and reducing SCC. Further research is needed to optimize management practices for maximizing dairy cow welfare and udder health.