Effects of Rubber Flooring on Feeding and Resting Behavior of Dairy Buffalo and Cows

Abstract

This experiment evaluated the effects of rubber laying surface on feeding and lying behavior kinetics of dairy buffaloes and cows. Fifty-four Anatolian dairy buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and 18 Brown Swiss dairy cows were used in the experiment. The animals group-housed in pens with concrete floor before the rubber flooring. The behavior of the animals was recorded 24 hours for 15 days before and after rubber flooring with a video camera system in the barn. Behavior data were expressed as% of observed animal in pen per hour for each species. Lying down behavior was assumed in a resting manner. The average number of buffaloes laying down increased after rubber flooring while there was no effect on resting behavior of the cows. The rubber flooring had no effect on feeding behavior of cows. Unexpectedly, the percent of buffaloes displaying feeding behavior decreased after rubber flooring. Results suggested that water buffalo may have different responses to management and housing strategies compared with the cows. However, further comparative studies with individual animal data and widespread behavioral observations may support a better understanding of behavioral response to modern intensive management strategies in dairy buffaloes.