Behavioural risk factors associated with abnormal health in dairy cattle: A review

Abstract

Changes in living organisms’ internal environment are generally expressed by behavioural signs, which  reflect the health status of animals and considered as true indicator of illness. In traditional animal husbandry  system, the simple way to recognize the illness in animals only when they become depressed or off fed.  Changes of feeding, drinking/suckling, lying, standing, social and rumination behaviour can be helpful  for early prediction or identification of abnormal health in dairy cattle. Tail raising, pawing, restlessness,  looking back to abdomen, hunching of back, rubbing against wall and urination behaviour can predict the  incidence of dystocia in dairy cows. In addition, walking/stepping, turning head against udder and self  grooming behaviour also alter in cows and can be helpful for early prediction or identification of abnormal  health. Validation of disease specific behavioural risk factors using automatic electronic monitoring system  in a particular farm with defined housing design and management practices can improve the accuracy of  prediction or identification of cows that are going to develop ill health. Therefore, managemental interventions  at proper time based on behaviour change can be utilized as effective means to reduce the subsequent  abnormal health in dairy cattle.