Dark pathways : cows’ walking behavior in dim light environments
Swedish dairy cows should have access to dim light at night according to the animal welfare act, but there are no further recommendations stated for dim light management regarding light intensity, light color, or light distribution. This study aimed to examine the effects of five dim light intensi...
| Autor principal: | |
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| Formato: | H2 |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés sueco |
| Publicado: |
SLU/Dept. of Animal Nutrition and Management (until 231231)
2022
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| Materias: |
| _version_ | 1855572944833478656 |
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| author | Ståhlberg, Kajsa |
| author_browse | Ståhlberg, Kajsa |
| author_facet | Ståhlberg, Kajsa |
| author_sort | Ståhlberg, Kajsa |
| collection | Epsilon Archive for Student Projects |
| description | Swedish dairy cows should have access to dim light at night according to the animal welfare act, but
there are no further recommendations stated for dim light management regarding light intensity,
light color, or light distribution. This study aimed to examine the effects of five dim light intensities,
in red and white light color, and in even and uneven light distribution on cows’ walking behavior in
an obstacle course. The study was performed during four weeks and a change-over design was
applied. Twelve cows were assigned to walk through an obstacle course in 14 light treatments
including two control treatments. Five different light intensities, in red and white light, and in evenly
and unevenly distributed light were tested. Time taken for the cows to pass through, and number of
steps during the obstacle course were recorded. Speed, stepping rate, and step length was calculated.
In addition, behavioral observations of the cows walking through the obstacle course were
performed. Results showed that cows walked slower and took fewer steps per second in red,
unevenly distributed light in medium intensity compared with control light (p<0.05) and red, evenly
distributed light in low intensity (p<0.005). Cows’ walking behavior did not differ in the darkest
light treatment compared to the other light treatments (p>0.1). Light treatment did not affect the
observed behaviors (P>0.3). In conclusion, the results indicate that cows can navigate in dark
environments without supplementary light and in red light environments. Red, unevenly distributed
light in medium intensity interfered with cows’ walking behavior in the obstacle course. Further
research is desirable to investigate dim light effects on cows’ walking behavior in a loose housing
system. |
| format | H2 |
| id | RepoSLU17738 |
| institution | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences |
| language | Inglés swe |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publishDateSort | 2022 |
| publisher | SLU/Dept. of Animal Nutrition and Management (until 231231) |
| publisherStr | SLU/Dept. of Animal Nutrition and Management (until 231231) |
| record_format | eprints |
| spelling | RepoSLU177382023-05-04T01:15:04Z Dark pathways : cows’ walking behavior in dim light environments Hittar kor i mörker? : kors gångbeteende i mörka ljusmiljöer Ståhlberg, Kajsa night light illumination locomotion activity intensity color distribution obstacle course Swedish dairy cows should have access to dim light at night according to the animal welfare act, but there are no further recommendations stated for dim light management regarding light intensity, light color, or light distribution. This study aimed to examine the effects of five dim light intensities, in red and white light color, and in even and uneven light distribution on cows’ walking behavior in an obstacle course. The study was performed during four weeks and a change-over design was applied. Twelve cows were assigned to walk through an obstacle course in 14 light treatments including two control treatments. Five different light intensities, in red and white light, and in evenly and unevenly distributed light were tested. Time taken for the cows to pass through, and number of steps during the obstacle course were recorded. Speed, stepping rate, and step length was calculated. In addition, behavioral observations of the cows walking through the obstacle course were performed. Results showed that cows walked slower and took fewer steps per second in red, unevenly distributed light in medium intensity compared with control light (p<0.05) and red, evenly distributed light in low intensity (p<0.005). Cows’ walking behavior did not differ in the darkest light treatment compared to the other light treatments (p>0.1). Light treatment did not affect the observed behaviors (P>0.3). In conclusion, the results indicate that cows can navigate in dark environments without supplementary light and in red light environments. Red, unevenly distributed light in medium intensity interfered with cows’ walking behavior in the obstacle course. Further research is desirable to investigate dim light effects on cows’ walking behavior in a loose housing system. Svenska mjölkkor ska ha tillgång till nattbelysning enligt den svenska djurskyddslagen, men det finns inga ytterligare rekommendationer kring hur nattbelysningen bör vara utformad gällande ljusintensitet, ljusfärg eller ljusarmaturernas fördelning. Studiens syfte var att undersöka hur fem olika ljusintensiteter, i vitt och rött ljus samt jämn och ojämn ljusfördelning påverkar kors gångbeteende i en hinderbana. Studien genomfördes i en change-over design under fyra veckor där totalt tolv kor gick genom en hinderbana i fjorton ljusbehandlingar inklusive två kontrollbehandlingar. Fem olika ljusintensiteter, i rött och vitt ljus, samt jämnt och ojämnt fördelat ljus testades i försöket. Tidtagning och antal steg mättes när korna gick genom hinderbanan. Kornas hastighet, steg per sekund och steglängd beräknades. Kornas beteende observerades och noterades när de passerade genom hinderbanan. Studiens resultat visade att korna gick långsammare och tog färre steg per sekund i rött, ojämnt fördelat ljus i medel intensitet jämfört med kontrolljuset (p <0,05) och rött, jämnt fördelat ljus i låg intensitet (p <0,005). Kors gångbeteende förändrades inte i mörker i jämförelse med de andra ljusbehandlingarna (p >0,1). Kornas observerade beteende påverkades inte av någon ljusbehandling (P >0,3). Slutsatsen var att kor verkar kunna navigera genom en hinderbana i mörka miljöer utan belysning samt i rött ljus. Rött, ojämnt fördelat ljus i medel intensitet påverkade kors gångbeteende i hinderbanan. Slutligen behövs mer forskning för att undersöka hur kors gångbeteende påverkas av nattbelysningens utformning i lösdrifter. SLU/Dept. of Animal Nutrition and Management (until 231231) 2022 H2 eng swe https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/17738/ |
| spellingShingle | night light illumination locomotion activity intensity color distribution obstacle course Ståhlberg, Kajsa Dark pathways : cows’ walking behavior in dim light environments |
| title | Dark pathways : cows’ walking behavior in dim light environments |
| title_full | Dark pathways : cows’ walking behavior in dim light environments |
| title_fullStr | Dark pathways : cows’ walking behavior in dim light environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dark pathways : cows’ walking behavior in dim light environments |
| title_short | Dark pathways : cows’ walking behavior in dim light environments |
| title_sort | dark pathways : cows’ walking behavior in dim light environments |
| topic | night light illumination locomotion activity intensity color distribution obstacle course |