Cows 'prefer eating hay on pasture during winter'

Cows managed on pasture with hay also had higher skin temperatures and cleaner coats. The results suggest the greater opportunities for thermal comfort on pasture with hay may be due to both increased rumination activities and a more insulated lying area.

AgResearch scientists joined with colleagues from Massey University in carrying out the study on NZ dairy farms with 80 Friesian cross-bred (Friesian and Jersey), nonlactating and pregnant cows, in the winter of 2022.

The published research states: “In countries with pasture-based dairy systems and relatively cold winters, such as New Zealand, it is common to manage pregnant, nonlactating cows on forage crop paddocks rather than pasture due to slow pasture growth rates. Wintering dairy cattle on grazed crops can compromise welfare if wet and muddy underfoot conditions occur, which can reduce lying. This study investigated behavioural and physiological indicators of welfare of cows under 2 wintering practices: cows managed on and grazed kale crop, and cows managed on pasture with baled hay.”

AgResearch senior scientist Karin Schütz says the research was the first of its kind to show cows were warmer in a hay bale grazing system than forage crops.

“Our research has shown that bale grazing systems can provide cows with several welfare benefits and help them conserve energy and maintain normal body temperature,” Schütz says.

“The diet of pasture and hay promotes rumination throughout the day and night which helps with thermoregulation when the weather is cold. The hay litter left from the hay bales gives the cows an insulated and soft surface to lie down and rest on, which we know cows prefer.

Research into these different wintering systems has also demonstrated environmental benefits, in addition to those for the animals.

AgResearch senior scientist Ross Monaghan says environmental benefits observed in trials included greater opportunity to capture urinary nitrogen in the hay bale system, and therefore less nutrient loss, as well as less mud and soil damage.

The research into animal behaviour/welfare in different systems received funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change (SLMACC) fund, and AgResearch.

For the full study, visit https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224007586