Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thermoregulatory, behavioral, and productive responses and physical integrity of primiparous and multiparous cows on compost barn in Brazilian tropical conditions

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The compost barn is presented as a system which is capable of providing a suitable environment for dairy cows, but this must be assessed for different climatic regions. Few studies have been carried out evaluating the physics of the thermal environment of this system under tropical conditions. In this study, we evaluated thermoregulatory, behavioral, and productive responses and physical integrity in primiparous and multiparous cows housed in a compost barn system under tropical conditions. From a total of 121 clinically healthy dairy cows aged 3 to 6 years, 30 Girolando cows (7/8) were randomly selected, divided into two groups, according to calving order (primiparous and multiparous), body weight, lactation curve and milk production for the evaluations. Thus, group 1 (primiparous) with an average weight of 524 kg and production of 30 kg was characterized, and group 2 (multiparous) with an average weight and production of 635 kg and 36 kg, respectively. The enthalpy was higher (P < 0.05) in the internal environment of the shed at the three evaluated times (3:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 6:30 p.m.), but the humidity did not vary (P > 0.05) between the internal and external environments at the evaluated times. Respiratory rate was higher (P < 0.0001) in multiparous cows at 11:30 a.m., but was similar at 3:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. when compared with primiparous cows. The coat surface temperature was higher (P < 0.001) at 3:30 a.m., but similar at the other two times. For the variables lameness and dirtiness, the vast majority of animals presented scores considered adequate (1 and 2), indicating that it was able to provide an ideal physical environment. Regarding animal behavior, panting (O) and lying idle (OD) were higher (P < 0.05) in multiparous cows. Multiparous cows have higher (P < 0.0001) milk production. Milk production has a negative correlation with enthalpy. The CB system was not able to provide a suitable thermal environment for the animals. Multiparous cows present higher heat stress with change in behavioral responses, especially at midday, but with higher milk production when compared to primiparous cows in compost barn under tropical conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

Code availability

Not applicable.

References

  • Adams AE, Lombard JE, Fossler CP, Román-Muñiz IN, Kopral CA (2016) Associations between housing and management practices and the prevalence of lameness, hock lesions, and thin cows on US dairy operations. J Dairy Sci. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11517

  • Alvares CA et al (2013) Köppen’s climate classification map for Brazil. Meteorol Z 22(6):711–728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ammer S et al (2017) Impact of diet composition and temperature-humidty index on water and dry matter intake of high-yielding dairy cows. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.12664

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Astiz S, Sebastian F, Fargas O, Fernández E, Calvet E (2014) Enhanced udder health and milk yield of dairy cattle on compost bedding systems during the dry period: a comparative study. Livest Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2013.10.028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barberg AE, Endres MI, Janni KA (2007) Compost dairy barns in Minnesota: a descriptive study. Appl Eng Agric 23:231–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barberg AE, Endres MI, Reneau JK (2007) Performance and welfare of dairy cows in an alternative housing system in Minnesota. J Dairy Sci. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(07)71643-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Black R, Day GB, Taraba JL, Damasceno FA (2013) Compost bedded pack dairy barn management, performance, and producer satisfaction. J Dairy Sci. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2013-6778

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Black RA, Taraba JL, Day GB, Damasceno FA, Newman MC, Akers KA, Wood CL, McQuerry KJ, Bewley JM (2014) The relationship between compost bedded pack performance, management, and bacterial counts. J Dairy Sci. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2013-6779

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosholn M, Anciães M (2018) Focal Animal Sampling. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_262-1

  • Broom DM, Fraser AF (2010) Comportamento e bem-estar de animais domésticos, 4th edn. Manole, São Paulo

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgstalle J, Raith J, Kuchling S, Mandl V, Hund A, Kofler J (2016) Claw health and prevalence of lameness in cows from compost bedded and cubicle freestall dairy barns in Austria. Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2016.07.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castro MSM, Vasconcelos de AM, Santos dos VO, Lopes AKC, Farias de MRS, Lima FRG, Rogério MCP, Ferreira J., Silveira RMF (2020) Thermoregulatory capacity of Santa Inês hair ewes of different genotypes associated with coat colors raised in a hot environment. J Appl Anim Welf Sci 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2020.181980

  • Cecchin D, Campos AT, Pires MFA, de Lima RR, Yanagi Junior T, Souza MCM (2014) Avaliação de diferentes materiais para recobrimento de camas em baias de galpão modelo free-stall. Revista Brasileira De Engenharia Agrícola E Ambiental 18(1):109–115. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-43662014000100014

  • Chaplin SJ, Tierney G, Stockwell C, Logue DN, Kelly M (2000) An evaluation of mattresses and mats in two dairy units. Appl Anim Behav Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(99)00100-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook NB, Reinemann DJA (2007) Tool Box for Assessing Cow, Udder and Teat Hygiene Tools to Assess Udder Contamination.

  • Costa JHC, Burnett TA, Von Keyserlingk MAG, Hötzel MJ (2017) Prevalence of lameness and leg lesions of lactating dairy cows housed in southern Brazil: effects of housing systems. J Dairy Sci. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-13462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collier RJ, Dahl GE, VanBaale MJ (2006) Major advances associated with environmental effects on dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 89(4):1244–1253. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(06)72193-2

  • da Silva MV, Pandorfi H, de Almeida GLP, da Silva RAB, Morales KRM, Guiselini C, Santana TC, de Cangela GLC, Filho JADB, Moraes AS, de Montenegro AAA, de Oliveira Júnior JF (2023) Spatial modeling via geostatistics and infrared thermography of the skin temperature of dairy cows in a compost barn system in the Brazilian semiarid region. Smart Agric Technol 3:100078. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ATECH.2022.100078

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Castro Júnior SL, Silva IJOD (2021) The specific enthalpy of air as an indicator of heat stress in livestock animals. Int J Biometeorol 65:149–161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-020-02022-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Vasconcelos AM, de Albuquerque CC, de Carvalho JF, Façanha DAE, Lima FRG, Silveira RMF, Ferreira J (2021) Adaptive profile of dairy cows in a tropical region. Int J Biometeorol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-019-01797-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eckelkamp EA et al (2016) Sand bedded freestall and compost bedded pack effects on cow hygiene, locomotion, and mastitis indicators. Livest Sci 190:48–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Endres MI, Barberg AE (2007) Behavior of dairy cows in an alternative bedded-pack housing system. J Dairy Sci 90:4192–4200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (2009) Saponins in Madhuca Longifolia as undesirable substances in animal feed. EFSA J 7(2):1–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fávero S, Portilho FVR, Oliveira ACR, Langoni H, Pantoja JCF (2015) Factors associated with mastitis epidemiologic indexes, animal hygiene, and bulk milk bacterial concentrations in dairy herds housed on compost bedding. Livest Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2015.09.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fregonesi JA, Leaver JD (2001) Behaviour, performance and health indicators of welfare for dairy cows housed in strawyard or cubicle systems. Livest Prod Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(00)00234-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frigeri KDM, Deniz M, Damasceno FA, Barbari M, Herbut P, Vieira FMC (2023) Effect of heat stress on the behavior of lactating cows housed in compost barns: a systematic review. Appl Sci 13:2044. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guesine GD, Silveira RMF, da Silva IJO (2023) Physical and environmental characteristics of the compost barn system and its effects on the physical integrity, reproduction and milk production of dairy cattle: a scoping review. J Anim Behav Biometeorol 11(2):2023010. Retrieved from https://malque.pub/ojs/index.php/jabb/article/view/409

  • Hahn GL (1999) Dynamic responses of cattle to thermal heat loads. J Anim Sci 77:10–20

  • Kadzere CT, Murphy MR, Silanikove N, Maltz E (2002) Heat stress in lactating dairy cows: a review. Livest Prod Sci 59–91

  • Levene H (1960) In Contributions to Probability and Statistics: Essays in Honor of Harold Hotelling, I. Olkin et al. eds., Stanford University Press, 278–292

  • Lima ARC, Silveira RMF, Castro MSM, De Vecchi LB, da Fernandes MHMR, de Resende KT (2022) Relationship between thermal environment, thermoregulatory responses and energy metabolism in goats: a comprehensive review. J Therm Biol 109:103324. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JTHERBIO.2022.103324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lobeck KM, Janni KA, Endres MI, Godden SM (2012) Environmental characteristics and bacterial counts in bedding and milk bulk tank of low profile cross ventilated, naturally ventilated, and compost bedded pack dairy barns. Appl Eng Agric. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.41280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manske T, Hultgren J, Bergsten C (2002) Topical treatment of digital dermatitis associated with severe heel-horn erosion in a Swedish dairy herd. Prev Vet Med Amsterdan 53:215–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-5877(01)00268-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martello LS, Savastano Júnior H, Silva SL, Titto EAL (2004) Respostas fisiológicas e produtivas de vacas holandesas em lactação submetidas a diferentes ambientes. Revista Brasileira De Zootecnia 33(1):181–191. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982004000100022

  • National Research Council (NRC) (2001) Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle: seventh revised edition, 2001. The National Academies Press, Washington

  • Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ambiência (NUPEA). Tabelas práticas de entalpia (2019) Disponível em: http://www.nupea.esalq.usp.br/tabelas-de-entalpia. Acesso em: 02 nov. 2019.

  • Pilatti JA, Vieira FMC, Rankrape F, Vismara ES (2019) Diurnal behaviors and herd characteristics of dairy cows housed in a compost-bedded pack barn system under hot and humid conditions. Animal 13(2):399–406. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731118001088

  • Pinheiro MG, Nogueira JR, Lima MLP, Leme PR, Macari M, Naas IA et al (2005) Efeito do ambiente pré-ordenha (sala de espera) sobre a temperatura da pele, a temperatura retal e a produção de leite de bovinos da raça Jersey. Revista Portuguesa de Zootecnia 12(2):37–43

  • Radavelli WM (2018) Caracterização do sistema compost barn em regiões subtropicais Brasileiras. Dissertation. Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina

  • Reece, W. O. Fisiologia dos animais domésticos (2006) 12. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Guanabara Koogan S. A.,. 897–908

  • Reece, WO In: DukeS HH (2007) Fisiologia dos animaisdomésticos. 12. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Guanabara Koogan S. A., 946,

  • Rodrigues VC et al (2011) A correct enthalpy relationship as thermal comfort index for livestock. Int J Biometeorol 55:455–459. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-010-0344-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salvian M, Silveira RMF, Petrini J et al (2023) Heat stress on breeding value prediction for milk yield and composition of a Brazilian Holstein cattle population. Int J Biometeorol 67:347–354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-022-02413-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sárová R et al (2013) Pay respect to the elders: age, more than body mass, determines dominance in female beef cattle. Anim Behav 86:1315–1323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.10.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schreiner DA, Ruegg PL (2003) Relationship between under and leg hygiene scores and subclinical mastitis. J Dairy Sci 86:3460–3465

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sejian V, Bhatta R, Gaughan JB, Dunshea FR, Lacetera N (2018) Review: Adaptation of animals to heat stress. Animal 12(s2):s431–s444. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731118001945

  • Shapiro SS, Wilk MB (1965) An analysis of variance test for normality (complete samples). Biometrika 52:591–611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silanikove N (2000) Effects of heat stress on the welfare of extensively managed domestic ruminants. Livest Prod Sci 67:1–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0301-6226(00)00162-7

  • Silveira RMF, Ferreira J, Busanello de MMVAJ, Valente FL, Façanha DAE (2021) Relationship between thermal environment and morphophysiological, performance and carcass traits of Brahman bulls raised on tropical pasture: a canonical approach to a set of indicators. J Therm Biol 96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102814

  • Sprecher DJ, Hostetler DE, Kaneene JB (1994) A lameness scoring system that uses posture and gait to predict dairy cattle reproductive performance. Theriogenology 47:1167–1179

    Google Scholar 

  • Vieira FMC, Soares AA, Herbut P, de Vismara ES, Godyń D, Dos Santos ACZ, da Lambertes TS, Caetano WF (2021) Spatio-thermal variability and behaviour as bio-thermal indicators of heat stress in dairy cows in a compost barn: a case study. Animals 11(5):1197. https://doi.org/10.3390/ANI11051197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welfare Quality (2009) Welfare Quality Assessment Protocol for Cattle. Welfare Quality, Lelystad, the Netherlands.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher-Level Personnel (CAPES), for the support in the realization of this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment Livestock Research Group (NUPEA), Department of Biosystems Engineering, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

    Giovane Debs Guesine, Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira & Iran José Oliveira da Silva

  2. Department of Animal Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

    Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira

Authors
  1. Giovane Debs Guesine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Iran José Oliveira da Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

G. D. Guesine and I. J. de O. Silva led the research and investigation process, data collection, formal analysis, wrote the original draft, and participated in conceptualization and methodology and the project administration. R. M. F. Silveira participated in the critical review and in conceptualization.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Iran José Oliveira da Silva.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Guesine, G.D., Silveira, R.M.F. & da Silva, I.J.O. Thermoregulatory, behavioral, and productive responses and physical integrity of primiparous and multiparous cows on compost barn in Brazilian tropical conditions. Int J Biometeorol 67, 1003–1015 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-023-02474-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-023-02474-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation