ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of tactile stimuli and music during daily milking on the productive, physiological, well-being, and health parameters of dairy cows. The experiment, which lasted 39 days, was conducted on a commercial farm with forty crossbred cows (age: 36 to 42 months; weight: 350 to 400 kg) distributed in a completely randomized design (2 × 2) via the following treatments: (Con)-cows not exposed to stimuli, (Tac)-cows exposed to tactile stimuli before milking, (Mus)-cows exposed to music during milking, (Tac+Mus)-cows exposed to both stimuli. In this study, classical music with a slow (75 to 107 BPM) and moderate tempo (90 to 100 BPM) was played, and tactile stimuli was provided manually using a flexible stick in the posterior region and udders of the cows. Cows not exposed to any of the stimuli had up to 41% higher residual milk quantity compared to those exposed to one of or both of the stimuli. The sound stimulus promoted an increase in milk letdown before the start of milking. Cows exposed to stimuli showed higher serotonin levels, indicating a beneficial effect on animal well-being. However, cows exposed to pre-milking tactile stimuli showed an increase in somatic cell count. Combining both techniques may have positive effects on milk productivity and well-being. However, using music alone may be more recommendable as it does not pose health risks.
ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of partially fermentable insoluble dietary fiber supplementation on the behavior, surface temperature, and reproductive parameters of gestating and lactating sows, as well as on the performance of their litters. Four hundred hyper-prolific sows were assigned in a randomized block design with two treatment groups during the gestation phase: Control (C), corn-soy based diets, or corn-soy based diets with daily 55 g supplementation of eubiotic fiber (F) from the 85th day of gestation until the farrowing (late pregnancy). During the lactation phase, the sows were assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design using the following treatment groups: (1) CC, no fiber included during gestation and lactation. (2) FC, daily inclusion of 55 g of fiber only during late pregnancy. (3) CF, daily inclusion of 55 g of fiber only during lactation. (4) FF, daily inclusion of 55 g of fiber during late pregnancy and lactation. Sows that received dietary fiber supplementation during the final third of gestation increased feed intake during lactation. Piglets from sows supplemented in both phases showed a significant increase in weight at weaning. The dietary supplementation of eubiotic fiber for sows in the end period of gestation and lactation improved performance and welfare, with positive consequences for developing their litters.
