title: Behavioral and pituitary adrenal-axis responses of dairy cows to social isolation and deprivation of lying down.
abstract: The behavior and plasma concentrations of ACTH and cortisol were studied in 30 Friesian cows kept in tie stalls and assigned to three treatments: control (C), deprivation of lying down from 0900 to 1600 and 2200 to 0500 (D), and social isolation (I). Behavior of the cows was observed before and after 4 and 8 wk of treatment. The D- and I-cows showed increased frequency of transitions between different behavioral activities (P < .05). In D- and I-cows the frequency of grooming (P < .01) and idling (P < .001), and the amount of leaning (P < .001) increased. In D-cows the frequency of eating was also increased. The behavior and cortisol response to two novel arena tests performed on two consecutive days after 22 d of treatment suggests that social isolation and deprivation of lying change cows' reactions to a novel environment. After 23 d of treatment, concentrations of ACTH and cortisol were measured during 7.5 h. On d 24, cortisol concentrations were determined at time -.5, 0, .5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h after i.v. administration of ACTH. Cortisol concentrations did not differ among treatment groups in the baseline series and after ACTH administration. In D-cows, ACTH concentration was increased in part of the baseline series (P < .05). The results suggest that the socially isolated cows were frustrated or tried to compensate for a lack of stimulation and that repeated deprivation of lying down is aversive to cows.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health and Welfare, Research Centre Foulum, Tjele, Denmark.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Munksgaard
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Simonsen
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000592:standards*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D017440:Photoperiod; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000662:veterinary; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone