Manejo aversivo em bovinos leiteiros e efeitos no bem-estar, comportamento e aspectos produtivos

Abstract

The human-animal interaction, determined by the type of management, is of fundamental importance in the dairy cattle production. And furthermore, the highest or lowest stress levels will be reached according to the nature of this particular interaction and so, consequently, the productivity and animal well-being. The study had the objective to evaluate the effects of aversive management on behavior, production and milk composition of cows. Thirty-two 60-96-month-old Holstein cows raised under extensive system were assessed. Behavior responses of reactivity (Re), defecation (De), urination (Mi), as well as the time spent in the milking parlour (TPO), duration of milking (TOR), milk production, chemical composition of the milk and somatic cell counting were registrated. Significative differences were found among managements regarding reactivity (P<0.0001), defecation (P=0.0208) e urination (P=0.0007). The cows aversively managed were the most reactive and showed the highest frequency of defecation in the milking parlour. However, cows submitted to aversive management had the lowest of urination. There was significative interaction (P<0.0001) among management and the days, regarding to TPO e TOR, demonstrating that in the end of the experiment the cows got used to the treatments. Looking at milk production, there was significative interaction (P=0.0062) between management and cow age; the aversive management negatively affected cow production with average age of 60 months. Nevertheless, there was no effect of the management on milk chemical composition and somatic cells counting. The aversive management alters the behavior of dairy cattle in the milking parlour, decreasing the well-being and reducing milk production of cows with an average age of 60 months.