ISSN 2285-5750, ISSN CD-ROM 2285-5769, ISSN-L 2285-5750, ISSN Online: 2393 – 2260
 

MONTHLY CHANGES OF BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS IN HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN, BROWN SWISS AND SIMMENTAL BULLS

Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXII, Issue 1
Written by Atakan KOÇ,Veysel Ali ÜNAL

Behaviors of Holstein-Friesian (HF), Brown Swiss (BS) and Simmental (SIM) bulls were determined under the Mediterranean conditions for a period of six months. A total of35 bulls were fed in two groups (10 HF and 8 BS in group I and 10 SIM and 7 HF bulls in group II). At the time of high feed consumption, the tendency to drink water from all breeds was also high and HF bulls had higher drinking and elimination behavior rates than those of BS and SIM bulls especially in hot summer months. All breeds preferred to perform locomotor activities late in the evening during the hot summer months. The bulls decreased feeding, standing and locomotion activities during hot hours at a lower rate or postponed these behaviors to the cooler hours of the day, but they increased lying and rumination activities in those hours. While HF bulls were more affected by higher temperatures than SIM and BS bulls, taking precautions against high temperature on farms level would lead to increase the fattening performance and also the welfare of the bulls.

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© 2019 SCIENTIFIC PAPERS. SERIES D. ANIMAL SCIENCE. To be cited: SCIENTIFIC PAPERS. SERIES D. ANIMAL SCIENCE.

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