Differences in behaviour of free-ranging cattle in the tropical climate

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1993

Abstract

The pasture behaviour of Holstein Friesian and Siboney de Cuba (58" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; font-size: 16.2px; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; position: relative;">58 Holstein Friesian×38" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; font-size: 16.2px; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; position: relative;">38 Cuban Zebu) lactating cows was studied during the dry season and the rainy season in the tropical climate of Cuba. Grazing, total activity, standing and lying, time spent in the sun and time spent in the shade were recorded from 08:00 to 18:00 h at 5-min intervals. In the rainy season, the Holstein Friesian cattle spent less time grazing and in activity, but spent longer in the shade than Siboney de Cuba, i.e. a higher thermal load was imposed on the purebred taurine cattle as compared with the Siboney de Cuba. However, no differences between the two breeds were observed in the dry season. The results indicate that the heat tolerance of Siboney de Cuba is superior to that of Holstein Friesian during the rainy season. In the rainy season mixed group series, the behaviour of Siboney de Cuba followed (was masked by) the behavioural changes shown by Holstein Friesians, i.e. a new herd behaviour was determined by purebred taurine cattle.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS