The Effect of Low and High Cowshed Temperatures on the Behaviour and Milk Performance of Czech Fleckvieh Cows

A group of 98 Czech Fleckvieh cows (one section) was observed over the period of one year with the aim to determine the variation in their milk performance and behaviour at different cowshed temperatures. Behaviour and milk yield were recorded once a week (on the same day) at 10:00. Periods of 8 weeks with the highest temperature (hot period - H) and of 8 weeks with the lowest temperature (cold period - L) were then compared. The cows were housed in one section (1/4 of the total capacity) of the free-stall cubicle shed and where the cubicles were distributed into three rows. Row A (32 cubicles) was close to the feeding plateau, row B (33 cubicles) was in the centre and row C (38 cubicles) was peripheral, close to the side wall. The cowshed temperature was monitored on a daily basis and the mean temperature was 23.2°C in the hot period and -1.7°C in the cold period, relative humidity 60.2% (H) and 74.6% (L), and THI 69.4 (H) and 33.4 (L). The behaviour of the cows was recorded 1568 times, showing them mostly lying down (1037) or standing (531). The cows tended to prefer lying down on their left sides (594 observations) as opposed to their right sides (443). Row A was favoured by the cows (418) and row B was the least popular (377). The cows produced significantly more milk in H period than in L period (0.3 kg per day). The cows lying down were older (3.18 lactations) than the standing cows (2.99 lactations) and they tended to produce more milk per day (by 0.6 kg) but the difference was found to be insignificant. The cows lying resting on their left side produced more milk per day (0.9 kg) and were older (0.02 lactations). The cows in row C were the youngest (2.94 lactations) and the cows in row B were in the last days in milk (144.1 days).