NOTHING IS BY CHANCE... Animal behavior and welfare: Science applied to sustainable dairy production
- Bruna Silper, Heloise Duarte e Luiz Gustavo Pereira
- Oct 7
- 8 min read
This article was published in the Integral Sustainability column, in Issue 199 of Revista Leite Integral - click to access the full edition .
In dairy farming, nothing happens by chance. Animal behavior is a direct response to the environment and management, reflecting their social interactions, physiological needs, and ways of adapting to the environment. Understanding these patterns not only improves cattle welfare but also optimizes production efficiency and makes the activity more sustainable.
Caetano Veloso sings in "Lua e Estrela," "But leave destiny to chance..." and, although chance seems to govern many events in life, animal behavior follows predictable patterns, being directly influenced by the environment and management. Small adjustments—from infrastructure to socialization—impact the health, well-being, and performance of the herd, demonstrating that these responses are not random, but rather the result of the interaction between environmental, physiological, and social factors.
This article and the eBook " Behavior and Welfare in Dairy Farming – Discoveries and Practical Applications " were prepared based on the Special Issue on Dairy Animal Behavior , published by JDS Communications . We selected the most relevant articles for producers, technicians, and academics, consolidating fundamental information for optimizing management and promoting welfare on the farm. We organized the scientific findings into five key areas, highlighting innovative studies and presenting practical recommendations for greater comfort and efficiency in dairy cattle (Figure 1).
The music suggests the uncertainty of chance and the fluidity of encounters, but in modern livestock farming, science proves that animal behavior is not random. Every interaction, every response, and every adaptation follows a logic, allowing well-planned management to result in more balanced, productive, and sustainable systems.
Social hierarchy and influence on access to resources
The herd's social structure directly influences cows' access to essential resources, determining which individuals receive priority for food, hydration, and rest. This impact affects health, well-being, and productivity, in addition to influencing milking dynamics.
Main impacts of hierarchy on the herd: Social hierarchy influences cows' access to essential resources, affecting feeding, hydration, and rest. Dominant animals tend to occupy the most contested resting areas, while subordinate cows may be frequently displaced. Furthermore, social structure impacts milking, where lower-status cows face longer waiting times and higher levels of stress.
The role of hierarchy in water consumption: Adequate hydration is essential for digestion, thermoregulation, and milk production, but access to water can be influenced by social hierarchy. Studies show that dominant cows tend to drink first and for longer periods, while subordinate cows must wait until periods of less competition to hydrate. Furthermore, during periods of intense heat, competition for water intensifies, increasing the risk of dehydration among animals with lower social status. Increasing the number of water troughs reduces this inequality, ensuring more equitable access to hydration.
Hierarchy and food consumption: Competition for feed can impact intake, digestion, and feed conversion, directly impacting herd productivity. Dominant cows access the feed trough first and consume larger quantities quickly, while subordinate cows need to adjust their feeding schedules to avoid competition. This imbalance can compromise rumination and increase the risk of metabolic disorders. Furthermore, competition is most intense immediately after feed distribution, making proper trough space management essential for balanced feed access.
The impact of regroupings on the hierarchy: Changes in group composition, such as the introduction of new cows, lead to a reorganization of the herd's social structure, resulting in a temporary increase in competition for resources and stress levels. Social hierarchy can lead to more intense disputes in the first few days after regrouping, requiring time for the animals to rebalance. During readaptation, social behavior may change, with adjustments in dominance and submission, as well as possible impacts on rest time and food intake. These findings reinforce the importance of careful management to minimize the impacts of group changes and ensure social stability.
Strategic adjustments in management help reduce production losses associated with social hierarchy, ensuring greater well-being and efficiency for the herd (Figure 2).
Impact of climate and heat stress on behavior and production
Heat stress is one of the main challenges in dairy farming, affecting the behavior and metabolism of high-yielding cows. Excessive heat compromises feed intake, rumination, milk production, and reproductive performance.
What happens to cows under heat stress? Cows under heat stress spend more time standing to dissipate heat, which reduces resting time and negatively impacts rumination and muscle recovery. Dry matter intake can drop significantly during periods of intense heat, directly affecting milk production. Furthermore, these cows exhibit increased respiratory rate as a thermoregulatory mechanism and may experience reproductive impacts, such as reduced pregnancy rates and reduced embryo viability. Heat stress also compromises immunity, increasing the risk of infectious diseases.
Technology and heat stress prediction: The use of artificial intelligence and environmental sensors allows us to predict the impact of heat stress on the herd, analyzing factors such as temperature, humidity, respiratory rate, and rumination patterns. These tools enable early detection of heat discomfort, allowing the adoption of preventive strategies before heat compromises welfare and productivity.
Heat stress is not only a physiological challenge, but also a factor that profoundly alters cow behavior. Understanding how cattle react to heat allows us to anticipate challenges and adopt effective strategies to minimize production impacts (Figure 3).
Socialization of calves and its long-term effects
Socialization in the first months of life has a significant impact on the behavioral, physiological, and productive development of calves. The way these animals are raised influences their adaptability, well-being, and performance in adulthood.
Comparison between calves raised individually and in groups: Calves raised individually tend to be more sensitive to their environment, demonstrating greater agitation when faced with new stimuli. Furthermore, they have difficulty adapting to feeding after weaning and a more intense response to stress, which can compromise feed intake and immunity. On the other hand, calves raised in pairs or small groups demonstrate greater calmness and better feeding performance, which facilitates the transition to solid diets . Early socialization also improves interaction with other animals, reducing conflicts in adulthood and promoting social learning, allowing calves to observe and replicate essential behaviors, such as environmental exploration and adaptation to milking.
Impact of socialization in adulthood: The positive effects of early socialization, as mentioned above, extend into adulthood, influencing the behavior, social stability, and well-being of cows in the herd. Research shows that cows that underwent early socialization exhibit greater social stability, reducing conflicts, and better adapting to the milking routine, which reduces potential causes of stress. These animals also demonstrate a greater ability to face environmental and nutritional challenges, maintaining a more balanced behavior in different production scenarios.
Calf socialization is an essential investment for the future. Implementing early socialization strategies contributes to growth, feed efficiency, and resilience in adulthood (Figure 4).
Farm infrastructure and its impact on cow welfare
Farm infrastructure is crucial to the well-being, comfort, and productivity of dairy cows. Inadequate facilities can generate chronic stress, intensify competition for resources, and compromise locomotor health and rest time. A well-planned environment, on the other hand, promotes feed efficiency, social interaction, and the expression of natural behaviors, resulting in a more balanced and productive herd.
How does farm infrastructure impact cow welfare? The organization and quality of facilities directly influence the animals' comfort and health. Inadequate resting areas reduce resting time and increase the incidence of locomotor problems, while slippery or uneven floors hinder movement. Ventilation and thermal control are essential to reduce heat stress and ensure animal comfort. Furthermore, the layout of spaces impacts access to essential resources, such as food and water, and influences the herd's social dynamics.
The importance of rest for productive performance: Rest time has a direct impact on the health and productivity of dairy cows. During rest, blood circulation in the udder increases, promoting milk synthesis and muscle recovery. Inadequate bedding, high animal density, and insufficient ventilation can compromise rest, increasing the risk of lameness and locomotor problems. To maximize the benefits of rest, ensuring adequate infrastructure and management is essential.
The influence of the structure of the bedding areas: The infrastructure of resting areas plays a central role in the well-being and locomotor health of cows. The type of bedding material, size, and layout of the space directly influence resting and rumination time. Studies show that well-designed facilities promote comfort and reduce the incidence of metabolic disorders and injuries. Proper planning of these structures is essential to ensure a safe and productive environment.
Impact of farm layout on production efficiency: Farm layout impacts herd behavior and organization. Poor design can lead to disputes and stress, hindering access to essential resources. Strategically positioning waterers, feeders, and resting areas reduces competition, improves movement flow, and encourages the expression of natural behaviors, ensuring a more balanced and productive environment.
Choosing a calving location: A suitable calving environment is essential for the safety of both cow and calf. Studies indicate that cows prefer to calve in protected areas, regardless of weather conditions. Protected areas with visual barriers reduce agitation, providing a calmer calving. Well-ventilated and isolated maternity stalls minimize external interference, ensuring comfort and well-being during this critical phase.
A well-planned infrastructure reduces stress, improves feed efficiency, and promotes herd well-being and productivity. Small adjustments to the organization of spaces and the quality of facilities can optimize animal performance and make the farm more efficient and sustainable (Figure 5).
Personality and individual preferences: impacts on daily management
Cows have stable personalities and demonstrate preferences for certain foods, mates, and resting areas, which influence their dynamics and hierarchy within the herd. Establishing management, nutrition, and milking practices based on this knowledge promotes herd well-being and productivity.
Cow Personality and Its Impact on the Herd: Studies indicate that, in addition to physical dominance and prior experience in the herd, cow personality can influence their hierarchical positioning and response to social stress. Cows exhibit stable behavioral traits over time, such as boldness or submissiveness, which can affect their interactions within the herd. However, there is no direct relationship between personality and milk production, indicating the need for further studies to understand the impact of these factors on productive performance and animal welfare.
Do cows choose what they eat? Beyond the influence of hierarchy, feed preference can also impact production efficiency. Studies show that cows have individual preferences for certain types of silage, indicating that palatability can be predicted through statistical analysis. Furthermore, diets adjusted according to animal preferences can improve feed conversion and reduce food waste. Monitoring individual consumption allows for the adaptation of diet formulations, ensuring better acceptance and nutrient utilization. Nutritional adjustments that consider these preferences can contribute to more efficient and sustainable feeding on the farm.
Cows have individual behaviors and preferences that influence their interactions and nutrition. Management adjustments based on observation and data promote a more balanced environment, ensuring well-being without compromising productivity (Figure 6).
Cows have individual behaviors and preferences that influence their interactions and nutrition. Management adjustments, based on observation and data, promote a more balanced environment, ensuring well-being without compromising productivity.
Transforming scientific knowledge into well-being and productive efficiency
Dairy farming evolves as new research deepens our understanding of animal behavior and its impacts on welfare and productivity. This article consolidates the most recent findings on social hierarchy, heat stress, calf socialization, infrastructure, and access to resources, offering an updated overview of the scientific discoveries that guide modern management.
More than simply understanding these factors, the practical application of knowledge is essential for producers and technicians to make informed decisions and implement strategies that ensure a more efficient and sustainable production system. The use of science-based technologies and approaches enables more precise management aligned with the current demands of the sector.
The dairy farming of the future will be shaped by the integration of research, innovation and good management practices, ensuring a balance between animal welfare, productivity and sustainability.
Reference
McArt, J. A. A. (2024). JDS Communications special issue: Behavior in Dairy Animals—Introduction. JDS Communications , 5(5), 367.
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