How cows sleep: time for quality rest, choosing a place to sleep

Hierarchy of cattle influencing rest

Cows are herd animals, and, as in any group, they have a clearly defined hierarchy. Dominant individuals can oppress others, and individuals located at the same level of the hierarchical ladder are able to fight for their position in the community.

This behavior most often occurs during feeding and resting. The dominant cattle always occupy the best place in the general stall, and other animals have to find a free corner for themselves. There are known cases when cows slept in a pen without approaching the leader closer than 5 m.

If there is no suitable place to lie down in the stall, the animals can sleep standing up. At the same time, they often do not close their eyes, although they are in a state of full sleep.

Regular sleeping standing has a negative impact on the cow's psyche, making her more agitated, which inevitably affects productivity, which can drop by 20%.

The cow sleeps very soundly and is capable of dreaming, as evidenced by its periodic sighs and movement of the eyeballs.

If a cow has the opportunity to lie down in a comfortable and clean stall, then she is able to completely switch off for a few minutes, becoming completely insensitive to external irritations.

The physical condition of the animal itself plays a huge role in quality sleep. If a cow sighs heavily in a dream, then you should immediately show her to a veterinarian. Cattle are very hardy animals and try not to show any perceived pain. It is in their sleep that they lose control, which allows the owner to identify an animal at risk and quickly help it with treatment.

Selecting a location

Adults prefer to be in a quiet and secluded place. There is no bright light or drafts here, but there is optimal humidity. The choice of such a space is influenced by the temperature regime. Cows love secluded corners where the temperature does not exceed +22 degrees.

If animals are kept indoors, the rest area should be equipped with dry straw or wooden flooring. On large farms, large individuals are not tied to the stall. For this purpose, special large courtyards were provided in which females and males can rest for 5 hours.

To keep cattle at home, special sheds must be equipped. For one individual you need 8 sq.m. free space. The eating area and resting area should be isolated from each other. The cow is not tied up at night or while eating.

Beginning farmers are advised to observe the animal when it chooses a resting place. In the future, this corner or space is equipped with soft straw, sawdust or dry grass. Attention must be paid to cleaning and cleanliness. The fact is that increased humidity and dirt provoke the spread of pathogenic microflora. These microorganisms negatively affect the animal's immune defense and reduce its productivity.

Sound sleep improves animal performance

Cattle farmers believe that when raising animals for meat, they can be allowed to sleep longer. And dairy cows should move more to improve health and increase milk production.

Today there are no criteria to determine how much a cow sleeps and how much time she needs to rest. Everyone is inclined to believe that cows must sleep lying down at night for at least 5-6 hours. The rest of the feeding process can take place in the pasture before and immediately after the day's milking.

When kept in stalls, it is not difficult to organize the process of daytime sleep, but each cow must be provided with an individual stall so as not to conflict with neighboring animals.

Remember that in the absence of a comfortable bed, cows located at the same level of the hierarchy will certainly begin to conflict and fight, causing injury to each other and reducing their productivity.

Important factors affecting cow sleep are:

• bright light;
• strong drafts;
• increased noise level;
• painful condition;
• presence of predatory animals nearby.

Short description

A cow is a female animal of any type of cattle; a male animal is called a bull. Among the domesticated subspecies of the wild bull (Bos taurus), dairy, meat and meat-dairy breeds are identified.

Physical data and nutrition

The average weight of a cow is almost 750 kg, height at the withers is up to 150 cm, depending on the breed and individual characteristics. As a rule, bulls significantly exceed females in weight and height.

The basis of the diet is plant food, the stomach consists of 4 sections. This structure of the digestive system ensures the functioning of the important process of chewing gum. After the eaten food returns to the oral cavity, the animal chews it thoroughly, then it again returns to the anterior sections of the stomach.

Hierarchy

As a rule, cows are herd species; their behavior is based on a dominant hierarchy. This system of life activity is formed on the basis of conflicts and clashes between individuals of the herd; the animals gradually get used to living together and this way of life does not change anymore. Sometimes there are cases where a leader emerges without a hierarchical system. Such an individual has excellent terrain orientation and sets the direction of movement of the rest of the herd members.

Mandatory walk before bed

If cows are kept in a stall-tied manner, then they have the opportunity to sleep during the period between milking and feeding. Most often they try to lie down, but they can sleep standing up with their eyes open. On average, cows spend 7 to 12 hours a day sleeping.

It should be remembered that prolonged sleep also negatively affects the health of cattle, as does lack of sleep. Experienced livestock breeders try to arrange a walk for animals kept in a tethered state, driving them around the barn for several hours every day.

At this time, workers have the opportunity to clean the stall and replace the bedding with fresh one. Animals returning from such a walk almost immediately go to bed and rest very soundly. At this time, it is recommended not to make too much noise, giving the cows the opportunity to sleep for as long as they need to fully recuperate.

On the contrary, for cattle raised for meat, the most comfortable sleeping conditions are created. Such animals lose fewer calories by converting feed into muscle mass.

Rest of various animals

Sleep is an integral process that is necessary to restore strength and energy. Today we know many interesting facts about how animals sleep. Many representatives of the fauna sleep in groups, so they ensure their safety, for example, elephants, ducks and foxes rest with their backs pressed tightly together.

Due to the inability to perceive bright light, some species sleep during the day; this category includes owls, catfish, bats and some others.

One of the most favorite poses for cats and dogs is considered to be “curling up”: heat loss with this method is minimal, and the most unprotected area of ​​the body – the stomach – is also hidden.

Shark

The ability to turn off brain activity is triggered when rest is needed, at which time the shark continues to swim. White sharks are specially placed against the current in order to fill the body with the necessary oxygen that comes with water currents.

Hippopotamus

A favorite resting place is shallow areas of reservoirs, where hippos sleep with their heads raised above the surface or are completely in the water, in which case they reflexively rise to the top every 3-5 minutes to inhale. The animal does not wake up.

Squirrel

This is a real record holder for the most incredible poses - squirrels are able to go to sleep, choosing the most varied position of their body and tail.

Dolphin

Once again, this mammal proves that it is truly an extraordinary animal. It is capable of turning off one of the hemispheres of the brain, while leaving the opposite eye open. The second eye monitors the environment, and also continues the work of the other hemisphere, which ensures control of all processes in the body.

Giraffe

Even such huge animals can sleep with virtually no discomfort. First, the giraffe kneels down, then bends its neck and folds it onto its chest, gradually moves onto its stomach and finally lays it on its long limbs. All this happens in about 20 seconds.

Whale

This ruler of the oceans is capable of sleeping when immersed in deep water; such periods accumulate several hours per day.

Bat

The individual structural features of the paws and wings allow it to either fly or hang upside down and sleep. The mouse spends almost 20 hours a day in this position.

Fox

Even the most severe frosts do not frighten the fox - she always sleeps in an open area, covering herself with her tail.

Horse

Their large body weight and specific bone structure do not allow them to sleep for a long time in a horizontal position on their side, so such sleep takes them no more than 4 hours. The rest of the day they doze while standing.

Walrus

Rest takes place while drifting on the surface, thanks to retention by the inflated gill sac.

Opossum

This interesting little animal is awake at night and sleeps during the day, hiding in a hollow tree or on a large branch.

Baboon

Various dangers and enemies have caused “sedentary” sleep; this habit has developed over many centuries.

Penguin

The sleep of some species looks comical - the whole body is relaxed and lies in an incomprehensible position with limbs scattered to the sides. Emperor penguins rest while sitting.

Cows love silence

Cows, like other animals, love silence. When allocating time for night and midday sleep for cattle, care must be taken to reduce the level of external noise as much as possible. At this time, it is not recommended to use various mechanisms when cleaning the barn, or to deliver feed.

Scientific studies have shown that poorly slept cows experience psychological discomfort, are more susceptible to stress, and the amount of milk they produce is significantly reduced.

In some cases, it takes at least two weeks to restore the mental state of livestock.

In recent years, many average farmers have chosen to build barns that can accommodate up to 50 animals at a time. It is easier to clean such premises while the cows are walking, replacing the bedding, clearing the feeders of old feed and filling them with new ones, as well as organizing the delivery of feed and removal of manure.

It should be taken into account that livestock reacts not only to the sounds of scraper conveyors, feed dispensers, tractors, but also to the noise made by people.

Some producers claim that dairy cows are very sensitive to classical music, which increases their milk production. However, during sleep, loud music can disturb the psyche of animals.

Therefore, while animals are sleeping, it is not recommended to talk loudly and it is strictly forbidden to play loud music.

If you decide to start raising cattle, you should keep in mind that sleep is no less important in keeping cows than proper feeding and milking.

Please like if the article was interesting and useful for you.

Write in the comments how you create comfortable conditions for cows to rest and sleep.

1. Cats sleep on average 13–14 hours during the day and wander around the house at night. The fact is that in the wild they usually hunt at night. Big cats like tigers can also sleep for long periods of time. The kings of the jungle don't need to be constantly on guard to protect themselves.

2. Dolphins can doze in such a way that only one half of their brain remains asleep. Thus, one hemisphere may experience waves of slow-wave sleep while the other half remains awake.

3. Horses and cows can sleep standing up, but cannot dream until they lie down.

4. Giraffes can go without sleep for weeks.

Sleep as a body need

Biologists have calculated that animals spend a third of their time on pasture, chewing cud for about 8 hours a day, and resting for 1/3 of the day. The type and methods of rest and rest and how cows sleep depend, first of all, on living conditions. So, for example, for individuals living in a stall, sleep does not occur according to a “schedule”, but whenever. For cows on farms with grazing in fields, proper rest occurs at night (approximately 22:00-04:00).

The principles of the hierarchical system of life activity of the herd also work during feeding and resting. Strong dominant individuals approach the food first, occupying the most convenient and closest positions. Weak and inferior individuals join the “meal” later. A similar rule is followed when resting - if there is no free space, driven animals can doze off while standing, while their eyes do not close.

Experts, when observing the behavior of animals and their regular sleep while standing, have proven that such sleep negatively affects the nervous system of the cow, causing agitation, aggressiveness and nervousness. These factors further provoke a decrease in productivity by 20% or more.

On average, a cow's full sleep per day is 4 hours; about 8 more hours are spent in a state of drowsiness (lying down, head and neck raised). Also, while the cow is dozing, the process of chewing occurs.

When conducting an electroencephalogram of a cow during a period of rest and dozing, the device records 2 types of electrical activity of the brain: fast waves (wakefulness) and slow waves (rest).

Animal behavior in the barn, such as territorial selection or reluctance to occupy an empty stall, may indicate improperly designed structures or insufficient ventilation of the barn. The animal happily occupies a compartment with dry bedding, so farm employees need to carefully clean the premises for keeping cattle.

Experts say that cows dream and are able to fall asleep quite deeply; this fact is confirmed by the movements of the eyeballs and the sighs of the animal.

The quality of sleep is greatly influenced by how you feel. Since cattle are considered strong and tireless animals that can easily withstand the effects of various external factors, veterinarians identify sick individuals by their behavior during sleep. Interruptions in breathing, twitching of limbs, shuddering and specific sounds are grounds for a more detailed examination and subsequent treatment.

Livestock experts say long hours of grazing and exercise are required to successfully raise dairy breeds. When breeding meat breeds, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for long-term, quality sleep. For example, the most expensive meat in the world - marbled beef - is obtained from the meat of cows that are limited in movement and spend most of their time eating feed and sleeping.

The average duration of night sleep in cows in a lying position varies between 5-6 hours, the total number reaches 12 hours per day. To ensure favorable conditions, it is necessary to exclude the influence of the following irritants:

How and where do cows sleep?

Cattle can sleep either standing or lying down. This depends on the living conditions of the animals and their place in the hierarchy of the herd. On average, to fully restore its strength, a cow needs to sleep at least 7–12 hours a day.

Cows rest in this position if they have the opportunity to get a good night's sleep in a dry and clean stall. An important point is the animal’s place in the hierarchy of the herd. Dominant individuals always choose the best place for themselves. To avoid conflicts, each individual must be provided with an individual stall.

Standing cattle sleep when they do not have the opportunity to lie down. This often happens in herd housing, when the cow’s rest lasts only from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am and she is forced to doze off standing in the pasture during the day. But irregular rest while standing has a negative impact on milk yield, which can decrease significantly due to the animal’s lack of proper sleep.

Company and comfort are the key to a restful sleep

Many horse owners note that they have never seen their horses sleep lying down. This is often due to the fact that the animal does not feel safe and comfortable in the stable or stall. It is important to understand that horses are herd animals, so they feel calmer when surrounded by their relatives or other animals. Therefore, most often you can see horses sleeping in a common pasture. However, not only company, but also comfort affects the rest of horses. It is important that the stable is warm, bright, away from noise, the stalls are clean and dry, with good ventilation.

Read also: Cow's milk: harm and benefit

When surrounded by its relatives, the horse feels calm and can take a nap.

The impact of sleep on productivity

If we are talking about raising cattle for meat, then the stronger and longer the sleep of such animals, the better it will be. In this case, the feed is quickly processed into muscle mass and the cow gains weight.

But in order to get high milk yields, the cow must combine rest and walks in the fresh air. This will increase milk productivity.

Cattle must have proper rest in order to maintain not only high productivity, but also health. Therefore, when planning to start raising cattle, it is extremely important to provide the animals with the opportunity to get a good night's sleep.

Body position during sleep

When observing cattle, there are three body positions in which a cow can fall asleep:

If a cow lies down completely on her stomach, then this phenomenon indicates that she is unable to rest in an enclosed space. Insufficient free space prevents the cow from achieving the correct body position for maximum relaxation.

In this case, the farmer needs to properly arrange the stall. It is necessary to remove all unnecessary objects from the space. The feeding trough and the sleeping area should be at a distance of 1 m from each other. When arranging the barn, it is important to take into account the dimensions of the individual.

If a cow chooses spacious pastures and meadows for sleeping, this may indicate its importance at the head of its herd. Dominant cattle will always demonstrate their position over other individuals.

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Want to know everything

Everyone has probably heard sayings like “sleeps like a war horse,” which allude to the fact that horses sleep standing up. Yes, and we have all seen horses sleeping while standing more than once.

So it turns out that all horses sleep standing up?

Horses sleep little and not soundly. At the slightest rustle, the animal awakens in order to escape. Therefore, it is a great advantage for them to sleep standing up. First of all, old or sick horses rest this way because they have difficulty getting up. Younger horses sleep mostly lying down. However, animals of the same group never sleep at the same time.

At least one of them keeps a standing watch and alerts the others in case of danger. First, the horses raise the front part of the body, and then jump up sharply, throwing up the hind part.

The horse can actually rest while standing thanks to the unique “locking” mechanism of the knee joint, which allows him to remain on his feet for a very long time and at the same time relax the muscles as much as possible.

During standing sleep, horses even dream (REM sleep), but in order to have a good rest and relieve muscle tension, the horse must lie down.

The main thing is safety!

Complete safety is the main condition for sleep for a horse. But her and her owner’s ideas about safety may not always coincide. A person believes that a horse in a closed stall is completely protected, but an animal in this enclosed space sometimes cannot get rid of the feeling of isolation from other horses and restriction of freedom, and this, according to the horse’s understanding, is fraught with danger. This is probably because the horse in the stall, left alone, takes upon himself both the duties of a guard and responsibility for his own life.

The best sleep is on the “side”

And yet, standing rest for a horse is just an imitation of sleep. In peace and security, she, like people, prefers to rest “on the side” to standing with her eyes closed, one might even say, “throwing her hooves away.” And scientists suggest that in order to enter the deep phase of sleep, a horse must lie down. Like humans and many other animals, horses have two stages of sleep: non-REM sleep and rapid eye movement sleep (deep sleep). More often than not, REM sleep occurs when the horse lies on its side rather than when it lies on its chest.

How long do they sleep?

It is believed that the average person needs an average of eight hours of sleep per day. During this period, horses spend approximately four to fifteen hours of their time standing, and only a few minutes to several hours lying down. Only part of this time are horses actually asleep, the rest of the time being brief moments of slumber lasting a few minutes each. The total sleep time for an adult horse ranges from a few minutes to a couple of hours per day.

Colorful dreams in the meadow

When people sleep, they sometimes dream. The same thing probably happens in horses. If you observe, through the closed eyelids of these animals, you can notice the movement of the eyes up and down, and the horses also move their legs in their sleep, as if they were trotting. I have heard from small children the question of whether horses have headaches, but who can answer that without a doubt? And we can only make assumptions about whether horses dream. They probably see it. It’s not for nothing that people even created a poetic image of a sleeping horse - an image of the bright, unattainable and beautiful. When you think about him, the mysterious white horse from the cartoon “Hedgehog in the Fog” immediately comes to mind, which ends with the question: “How is the horse doing?”

Doesn't sleep, but dozes

There are few activities for horses. They either eat or play and communicate. Wild horses sometimes have to run away from a predator, while domesticated horses have to work. In his free time, the horse usually dozes. This allows her to recuperate and be alert at the same time. In case of danger, the drowsiness disappears, the horse can immediately assess the situation and, if necessary, run. A special natural mechanism helps you sleep standing up and not fall. Her knee joints are designed in such a way that they do not relax or bend during sleep. The horse's body is not as flexible as, for example, wild cats. Fixation in the knees allows you to relax and rest even in a standing position.

Why is this necessary?

In a cow, most of the abdominal cavity is the so-called rumen. The volume of this section of the stomach is 200 liters. When food enters the mouth, it is first chewed, then enters the esophagus, and from there into the rumen. This is where breakdown occurs under the influence of microorganisms and bacteria.

Grass and other foods in the diet are crushed thanks to the action of the proventriculus. From the described section, the food passes into the mesh, where filtering occurs, the liquid goes further, and large parts again enter the mouth and the process repeats.

When overeating juicy clover, the animal stops regurgitating food, which needs to be experienced again . As a result , fermentation is disrupted and food is not broken down as required. With such a pathology, a large amount of gases is formed in the cow’s stomach, and in the absence of first aid, such a condition often ends in death. To save an individual, the veterinarian has to puncture the scar with a needle, which causes severe pain.

There is another problem with digestion - acidosis. With this disease, a large amount of lactic acid begins to accumulate in the stomach; it must be removed through a tube using lavage. Afterwards, the microflora must be normalized; for this, the contents of the rumen from another donor cow are used. Medicines along with donor material have to be administered through the hole; You can also take it by mouth, but using a probe.

If there is an imbalance in a cow's diet, the rumen reacts most acutely to this. Its work is disrupted when the farmer begins to introduce too much succulent or, on the contrary, roughage. The problem that has arisen can be eliminated much faster if you give the cow a so-called fistula, and for this it is necessary to surgically make a hole in the side of the animal.

The productivity of the livestock depends on the quality of nutrition and normal functioning of the stomach. You can increase milk yield with this artificially created control.

A fistula is necessary for the following processes:

• rapid removal of gases;
• ease of administration of medications;
• if a foreign body enters the animal’s digestive system, it can be eliminated through an opening in the stomach more quickly;
• a great way to conduct additional research on an animal and its organs;
• In case of intoxication of the body, it is possible to save the cow.

Many animal advocates think that a hole in the side is a mockery, but in fact, when these problems arise, the cow is able to quickly provide the necessary help. Of course, such a sight looks unpleasant from the outside, but such an addition does not in any way interfere with the cow’s ability to lead a full life and does not cause any unpleasant sensations.

When compared with older technologies used by veterinarians, the installation of a fistula has a number of advantages:

• instant access to the animal’s gastrointestinal tract;
• you can quickly cleanse the stomach, remove food that has not been digested, which will eliminate the possibility of proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms;
• diet planning, since monitoring the digestive system helps to find out which foods the cow digests well and which not.

The only drawback of the new method is its unattractiveness.

How many days does a cow walk before calving?

A number of factors influence the duration and course of pregnancy. The average period is determined to be 285 days, that is, 9 months. The norm is considered to be a time deviation from these indicators in both directions, that is, 240-311 days.

The duration of pregnancy depends on the following circumstances:

• conditions of detention - feeding, care, starting;
• breed of cow;
• What is the calving time - heifers carry longer.

According to statistics, heifers are born a day or two earlier than bulls. Often the exact date of conception is unknown, so the duration and duration of pregnancy are determined approximately.

Early calving occurs no more often than in 4-6% of cases. The following reasons can provoke early labor:

• poor care;
• large fruit;
• high loads;
• hormonal problems in a cow.

See also:
If the pregnancy lasted less than 140 days, the calf is born non-viable and cannot be released. The case is considered a miscarriage.

To determine the calving date, a calendar is used, which shows the dates of birth with a known date of insemination and the average duration of pregnancy.

Carrying out the operation

A fistula is always installed surgically, but general anesthesia is not used, only local anesthesia. The described method can be used exclusively on adult individuals; as a rule, heifers are taken after the second birth. The spine remains intact, and the cannula is installed in the hungry fossa.

If you look from the location of the processes of the lumbar vertebrae, the fistula is located at a distance of 8 centimeters from them. The place where the plastic object will be inserted is marked with chalk. It was plastic that became the ideal material for creating a cannula. This material does not oxidize, it does not react to stomach acid and does not react with microorganisms.

The step-by-step process of the operation is as follows.

• The animal must first be placed in a special pen. For further work, an anesthetic is administered, which will temporarily turn off pain receptors.
• The incision is made strictly in the marked place. First, the scalpel passes through the skin, then the muscles, and only after that the peritoneal tissue is overcome.
• With his hands, the veterinarian must find the wall of the scar and pull it towards the hole made.
• Without affecting the muscles, the walls of the scar are attached to the skin, only after that an incision is made.
• The skin and scar are stitched together.
• Before installation, the cannula is warmed up and inserted into the already created hole. There is no need to secure it, since the muscles already tightly grip the plastic. The lugs improve grip.
• The hole is hermetically sealed with a lid.

At first, the animal experiences slight discomfort, as after any operation. Complete healing can be observed within a month after surgery.

At the first stage, antibiotics must be injected to prevent the possible development of infection. The edges of the wound are treated with hydrogen peroxide.

Deep sleep on your side

A horse can only truly get a good night's sleep by lying down, legs straight and neck stretched. At this time, she does not react to external stimuli and, one might say, lies unconscious. It's interesting to watch a horse sleep. The photo of an animal stretched out on the grass looks funny. The horse sleeps “without its hind legs.” Often her legs twitch and sounds similar to snoring escape. Perhaps she sees dreams (just like a person... the classic was right after all, claiming that “we are all a little bit of a horse”), but this does not last long. It’s hard to lie down, the internal organs are compressed, breathing is difficult. And the animal’s need for sleep is not as great as, for example, a person’s. To get enough sleep, a horse needs 3 hours. But it takes her quite a long time to wake up; she needs a lot of strength to get up. The horse yawns and stretches, arching its back and extending its hind leg. Only after this is she ready for active movement.

How does a horse sleep in a wild herd? Trusting the sensitive leader and relatives. The inhabitants of the stalls, oddly enough, do not feel protected. They should touch each other's sides or at least see their neighbors. Indeed, in nature, these animals always live in large herds. But in stables, partitions prevent natural contact. Therefore, it is rare to see a horse sleeping on its side. When a person appears, sleep usually stops. The horse quickly gets to its feet, but this does not always mean that it is afraid. The instinct is simply strong, commanding you to be constantly ready to escape. If the horse does not stand up at the sight of its owner, it means that it has earned complete trust.

Aftercare

The appearance of swelling at the site of surgery is a completely natural process. The swelling decreases within a week, but for this the animal will need to be provided with proper care. At this time, it is very important to maintain hygiene and frequently clean the area where the cow sleeps.

While the cow is recovering, she is under strict veterinary supervision. The animal is kept in a separate stall, contacts with other individuals in the livestock and the environment are excluded. There are no exceptions for feeding and milking. Milking is carried out in a standard manner, the diet is the same as before the operation.

The best time for surgery is spring or autumn, when it is not very hot, but warm and there are no flies or other pests. The hole in the animal's body remains until the last day of life.

In Europe, such operations have been carried out for a very long time. On large farms, installing a fistula helps keep the livestock healthy. In our country, individuals with such a hole evoke pity and interest; sometimes excursions are even organized on farms. No matter how strange it may sound, on some farms spectators are even allowed to independently extract food from the cow’s stomach, however, such an attraction is not very popular.

Swiss veterinarians do not believe that a hole in an animal's stomach should cause criticism from animal rights activists. So that people correctly understand why this is being done, a detailed description of the procedure is given. On large farms, where every individual counts, this is more likely to save the cow than cause harm.

What is calving?

Pregnant cows are called pregnant (carrying a calf). The natural end of pregnancy is childbirth, which in an animal is called calving. The birth process follows the usual pattern:

• begins with contractions, during which the cervix dilates;
• During pushing, the fetus leaves the body through the birth canal.

You can tell by the cow's behavior that calving is approaching. The animal looks anxious, preparing a place for itself. Contractions last several hours, the period of pushing lasts about an hour. The duration of calving is influenced by many factors:

• the first birth lasts longer than the second one;
• when twins are born, the process is delayed;
• a small fetus comes out faster;
• weakened cows with problems during pregnancy calve longer.

In most cases, cows give birth on their own and do not need assistance. But experienced livestock breeders keep an eye on the woman in labor, tracking the time and characteristics of calving. You should be concerned if calving is delayed:

• in primiparous women it lasts more than 12 hours;
• for other cows - more than 10 hours.

The animal may require the help of a veterinarian; it is better to invite him in advance. In some cows, calving lasts longer, but there are no pathologies; this is within the acceptable limits and is an individual characteristic of the animal.

How many hours does a pig sleep?

Under optimal feeding and maintenance conditions, the duration of rest and sleep is about 18 hours a day. Pigs rest by lying in a dry place, where there are no drafts and not too light.

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How the fetus develops

During the intrauterine development of a calf, there is a constant increase in body weight, development of organs and systems. The physiological norm at birth is considered to be a baby’s weight of 30-40 kilograms, for large breeds - 50 kilograms.

Fetal weight gain chart:

The fetus gains most of its weight in the last 2-3 months of pregnancy, the cow’s belly increases before her eyes, and it becomes difficult for her to walk. In first heifers and when twins are pregnant, fetuses may develop more slowly. Calves born in twins often have low weight, they have to be nursed and given milk for longer.

KOGBU 'Center for Agricultural Consulting "Clover of the Non-Black Earth Region"

Comfort for cows in cold weather and extreme heat is the key to health and high productivity.

The indoor microclimate is a very significant factor in the working conditions of service personnel. In modern livestock farming, the success of livestock farming is determined not only by the feeding, breeding and age of the animals, but also by 20% by the microclimate and living conditions. It is impossible to achieve the best productivity from animals under the best feeding conditions if the microclimate conditions are not perfect. On the other hand, optimal microclimate conditions by themselves cannot yet ensure high productivity if the level of feeding and quality of the animals do not allow this. It is worth knowing that microclimate parameters greatly influence the service life of buildings and equipment and the working conditions of operating personnel. Cattle are not demanding in their maintenance. This means that when maintaining it, we must strive for the simplest solution to the problem of comfort. Comfortable keeping of cows is the creation of conditions that meet the physiological needs of animals, taking into account their physiological state, and the cow will reward in return by increasing the level of productivity. The need to create comfortable conditions is of economic importance: -the health of animals improves, the number of clinical and subclinical diseases decreases; - feed consumption increases, thereby increasing animal productivity; -increases the longevity of animals; -increases the service life of premises and equipment on the farm. Animal comfort implies 4 main conditions under which a cow feels ideal: 1. A dry, soft place to rest; 2. Fresh air and coolness; 3. Unlimited access to food; 4. Unlimited access to water.

• 1. Place to rest It is known that cows lie down for up to 12 - 14 hours a day if the place to rest is comfortable. If a cow is forced to lie down on a damp, hard floor, the duration of lying can be reduced to 6 hours, and the shortened period of lying down inhibits milk production by up to 30%. Stalls should provide the animal with the opportunity to unhinderedly lay down and stand up, and lean forward. The neck restraint should be located approximately 122–127 cm above litter level. A cattle stall performs essential functions depending on the type of housing. With the free-stall technology, this is a simple place to rest and digest food, and with the tethered method, the animal is milked and fed in the stall. Productivity, ease of maintenance and therapeutic measures depend on the correct selection and preparation of the stall. The tethered method of housing involves the use of a stall as the main habitat of cows, which affects milk production, the strength of the immune system, and the functioning of the reproductive organs. The dimensions of the stall for tethered cows are determined by the dimensions of the animals, depending on the breed and physiological state of the animal. Width: - up to 100 cm for medium cows; - up to 120 cm for large ones; - up to 150 cm for massive animals at 7-9 months of pregnancy (in maternity wards). Typically 120 cm stalls are used as they can be used for any animal and because of the 6 meter gap between the columns. Length: - up to 190 cm are more often used - 200 cm according to modern standards - 250 cm more often in maternity wards With a loose housing method, the approach is different - in a lying position the animals should be comfortably accommodated. Therefore, the width is used up to 125 cm, and the length up to 280 cm. For stalls located near the walls, the length can be increased to 3 meters. If you make short places, then the udder and pelvic limbs will constantly be in the passage, where they will be contaminated with dirt and microbes, and also be injured by other animals. It is best to use sliding models. Regulation is carried out in several ways: - moving the side pipes - adjusting the width of the box; — by shifting the limiter for the withers, the length of the stall is changed; — by raising it or lowering it, they adjust it to the size of the cow. Using bedding One of the main requirements for bedding material is to reduce the heat loss of animals while they rest on the floor. The use of bedding material allows you to maintain the cleanliness of the skin of animals and provides them with a dry, warm and soft place to rest, requiring daily cleaning. The use of bedding also improves the work of milkmaids and increases resistance. With prolonged contact of animals with a cold floor (more than 12 hours a day), there are large heat losses, increased feed consumption, decreased productivity, colds and the prevention of hoof diseases and bursitis. Hard surfaces cause bruises and bedsores, so animals avoid rest, which also reduces productivity. Straw, sawdust, peat, wood shavings, sand, and synthetic materials are used as bedding materials - they absorb moisture without causing harm to animals. This material can also be easily removed with scrapers, a conveyor or a tractor. Keeping animals on damp and contaminated bedding causes hypothermia, contamination of the skin and udder, and limb diseases (softening of the hoof horn, hoof rot, necrobacteriosis, etc.). At the same time, the quality of indoor air deteriorates: air humidity and the concentration of ammonia and microorganisms increase. Why should a cow lie down a lot: Under ideal conditions, cows lie down approximately 14 hours a day. During all this time they sleep only about 30 minutes. Cows rest between feeding and milking. Rest usually lasts from 0.5 – 3 hours. A cow needs to chew cud from 7 to 10 hours a day. 50% of cows lying down should be chewing - otherwise this indicates insufficient fiber in the diet. — The optimal number of lying animals is 80%. — While resting, the cow chews the cud. When lying down, more intense saliva synthesis occurs. Increased saliva production naturally stabilizes the pH in the rumen, which is extremely important when giving large doses of concentrates. — Blood circulation in the udder increases by 30%. Research shows that a lying cow has 1 liter more blood flowing through her udder per minute than a standing cow. At the same time, milk synthesis increases by 8%. — The load on the joints of the limbs is reduced. The limbs rest and dry out. — Swollen hocks, possibly with abrasions, should be observed in less than 5% of animals. A cow usually falls to her knees from a height of about 20 cm. - Therefore, the condition of the joints can determine whether the boxes are soft enough for cows.

2. More air - more milk. Temperature: Of all the microclimate factors, air temperature has the greatest influence on animal performance and how much feed they eat. Cows are animals that love cool weather. It has been established that for dairy cows the lower limit of the optimal temperature is +5°C, and the upper limit is +25°C.

The most comfortable temperature for a cow: 7 to +17 °C

At the same time, cows tolerate a decrease in temperature much easier than an increase. As the temperature decreases: 1. Feed consumption increases. 2. The cow’s need for feed increases, as the optimal conditions for maintaining vital functions change. 3. This gives you more energy to increase your productivity. Increased stress starts from +22 – 27°C. Much more problematic are high temperatures: 1. They place more stress on the cow and also increase the cow's energy needs. 2. Feed consumption decreases by 10–25%, energy deficiency occurs and, as a result, productivity decreases. 3. The drop in productivity can reach 20%. 4. Cows have accelerated breathing up to 80 breaths per minute. 5. Cows are more passive, they try to be closer to sources of air and water, and fatigue increases. 6.The body's resistance to diseases decreases. 7. There is no full preovulation peak of luteinizing hormone release into the blood. Ovulation is delayed or does not occur. 8. A decrease in fertility occurs in the hot summer months (July-August) 9. Body temperature rises to 39°C. The higher the productivity, the more feed the cows consume, the higher their level of heat production, the greater the influence of heat stress in all seasons of the year. In order for the body to maintain all functions normally, the body temperature must be constant (38.3 – 38.8°). Ventilation in the resting area Cows need fresh air. It is important to ensure good ventilation at the front of the stall. Air movement is necessary to reduce humidity and temperature in the barn. Condensation, cobwebs, ammonia smell, coughing and rapid breathing are signs of poor room ventilation. Air Humidity: Air temperature should always be considered in relation to humidity. So, if at a relative air humidity of 60% the limit of normal well-being is up to + 28°C, then at a humidity of 80% this limit drops to 23°C. In livestock buildings at the optimal temperature, the relative humidity is in the range of 70 - 85%. As the indoor temperature decreases, the relative humidity increases and condensation of water vapor may occur on walls, ceilings and floors. An increase in relative air humidity above the permissible level and especially the presence of condensation is undesirable for zoohygienic, thermophysical and technical reasons. At high humidity: 1. Moisture is also a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic microbes, fungi and mold. 2. High relative air humidity in stalls and condensed water cause great damage to the durability of buildings, machinery and equipment. 4. Due to the high thermal conductivity of moist air at low temperatures, animals lose a lot of heat, become chilly and catch a cold. At low humidity: 1. Animals tolerate low temperatures better. 2. Animals are susceptible to respiratory diseases, therefore the minimum permissible humidity is set at 50% for livestock premises. 3. Natural ventilation of the barn is based on the influx of dry, cool air and the outflow of moist and warm air. Air change should be carried out regardless of the time of year, weather conditions and temperature. In winter, it is recommended to make 4 air changes per hour, that is, every 15 minutes. The situation is more complicated in summer, when 60-100 air changes per hour are required. In summer, the heated air practically does not rise upward due to the small temperature difference, so when using natural ventilation, much larger openings are needed for air access in order to take full advantage of the wind.

Relative air humidity should not exceed 70-85%.

When animals are kept in closed, poorly ventilated buildings, a significant amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released during respiration accumulates in the air of the stalls, and the oxygen content is reduced. An increased amount of carbon dioxide reduces the normal metabolism of animals, their productivity and resistance to diseases. As a result of the decomposition of manure, urine and bedding impregnated with them, the air in stalls is also polluted with ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). These gases have a harmful effect on the animal body: ammonia irritates the mucous membrane of the eyes and respiratory tract, and hydrogen sulfide is poisonous to the circulatory and nervous systems.

Maximum permissible content of carbon dioxide (CO2) – 2.5 l/m3

At lower temperatures, due to the cooling caused, the air speed must be lower than at higher temperatures. A certain minimum air exchange is always necessary to remove excess moisture and harmful gases from the room.

The optimal air speed is 0.1 m/s at t = 15 °C,

0.5 m/s at t = 30 °C

3. Feeding

Anyone can feed hungry cows. The art of feeding cows is

is to get a well-fed cow to eat at least a little more feed. The genetic potential of modern cows is very high, and proper feeding technology is important for its realization. Diet has a great influence on the quantity and quality of milk. A well-balanced diet is especially important during the milking period (early lactation), when the cow is lacking nutrients. Otherwise, the risk of metabolic disorders and weight loss increases. Healthy and moderately well-fed cows (3.5 – 3.75 points) will more easily transition from the dry period to the lactation period. The cow is a ruminant animal with a four-chambered stomach; the largest of the chambers is the rumen. Its volume is about 150 - 200 liters. Microflora is formed in the rumen, helping to digest and absorb nutrients from the feed. The feed a cow consumes also feeds the bacteria in her rumen. More frequent distribution of feed affects the activity of cows: they will more often approach the feed stall, drinkers, and then rest in the stall. American researchers have shown that a cow eats on average 12 times a day and spends about 25 minutes on one meal. Therefore, it is very important to properly equip the feeding area. Cows prefer to eat with their heads tilted, this increases saliva flow by 17%. The surface from which the cow eats should be 15 cm higher than the surface on which she stands. The most important factor to pay attention to is: 1. The average cow eats 12 times a day and spends about 25 minutes eating each meal. 2. The cow stands at the feeder for almost 5 hours. 3. Length of the stern front. It is necessary to plan 60 - 80 cm per head. Cows must be able to approach and consume feed at the same time. 4. The feeding table should be at a height of 10 - 15 centimeters from the floor when the cows are standing. Animals should not kneel or reach up to reach the feeding table. 5. While eating feed, the cow should not touch either the top crossbar (to avoid chafing the neck) or the edge of the feeder. In this case, the upper crossbar should be at the level of 125 cm, and the lower edge of the feeder should not be higher than 52 cm. 6. The surface of the feeding table is also of a certain importance. It should be as smooth as possible, since the cow slides its tongue over this surface many times during the day, picking up food. 7. If the diet is prepared correctly, then up to 5% of the feed will always remain on the feeding table after each distribution. 8. Low quality feed is poorly digested and reduces the quantity and quality of milk produced.

4. Watering Milk is almost 90% water, so it is not surprising that the water a cow consumes has a big impact on milk production. If you provide cows with the correct water supply, the animals will drink more, eat more and, as a result, produce higher milk yields. All this is very simple and yet very important. To digest 1 kg of dry feed, a cow needs up to 5 liters of water, and to produce 1 liter of milk, 4–5 liters of water. Highly productive cows consume up to 150 - 200 liters of water per day! Cows drink quickly, up to 20 liters per minute. Reducing water consumption leads to a decrease in milk production. For example, reducing water consumption by 40% reduces milk production by 25%. Cows drink water while eating and immediately after milking. Cows consume 30% of their liquid after milking. Signs of insufficient water consumption: 1. Very thick stool consistency 2. Little urine formation 3. Insufficient productivity 5. Lacking urine (in addition, this may be due to a lack of salts or protein) The optimal water temperature is 15-17°C. At such indicators, animals consume the maximum amount of water. Cows love to drink clean, fresh water. They, compared to humans, are more sensitive to low quality water. Do not forget that drinking bowls must be cleaned at least once a week. Water quality is affected by the levels of bacteria, chemicals, organic matter and minerals in the water. In addition to the main components of animal comfort, do not forget about lighting, timely trimming of hooves and avoidance of stressful situations.

Illumination. Light has a positive biological effect on the body of animals, especially on the development and growth of young animals. Under the influence of light, the physiological metabolism in the body of animals and the absorption of feed are improved. Normal natural lighting helps to increase livestock productivity and the animal’s body’s resistance to disease. Increasing natural light in cattle housing helps increase milk productivity by about 5% and weight gain by 10%. The higher fat content in cow's milk of evening milk yield (compared to morning milk) is associated with the influence of light. The required illumination level is 200 lux for 14 – 16 hours. With a decrease in these indicators, both in cows and heifers, the release of releasing hormone by the hypothalamus, a hormone that regulates the pituitary gland's production of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones, which are responsible for the process of growth and maturation of follicles in the ovary, decreases. Direct sunlight also has disinfecting properties, killing or stopping the proliferation of pathogens. Sufficient illumination contributes to the health of workers and increases their productivity.

Timely hoof trimming. Hoof trimming has 2 main purposes: To provide stability and mobility to the hooves. Identify hoof problems early before more serious disease and lameness occurs. Untimely trimming leads to: 1. Hoof diseases. 2. Loss of milk production 3. Animals feel discomfort 4. Feed consumption decreases. 5. From the hooves, the disease often spreads to the udder, causing intractable mastitis. 6. The percentage of successful insemination decreases. Proper hoof trimming and good floor quality help distribute weight evenly between the limbs and restore the shape of the hoof. It is recommended to trim hooves twice a year. The best time to trim hooves is at the beginning of the dry period, so that cows will have healthy legs when the next lactation begins.

Stress. Cattle, like other domestic animals, are susceptible to stress. The stressful state of an animal depends on genetic factors by only 20–30%, but on feeding and living conditions by 70–80%. Stress occurs regardless of the time of year, but is easier in hot, dry or cold, damp weather, or in conditions of long-term disturbed housing and feeding conditions. At the same time, the animals become restless, behavior changes, increased mobility, frequent feeding in small portions, and aggressiveness. The time spent on resting in comfort is reduced. Body temperature rises to upper physiological limits. Appetite worsens. Body weight decreases sharply, sometimes by 10%. Stressful situations ultimately lead to a decrease in animal productivity of 10–20%.

Create comfortable conditions for your animals, and in return they will thank you by increasing the level of productivity and reproduction.

How to determine calving date

Finding out the date of the expected birth is important for the owner - it is necessary to carry out the launch in a timely manner, in the future this will help to find out whether the cow is over-pacing. To determine the calving time, 2 methods are traditionally used - the above calendar and calculation using the formula.

The calendar table is compiled with a 5-day interval. With its help it is also convenient to determine the timing of the launch.

The date can be determined using the formula:

H — date of insemination (number);

M - month of mating.

Let's look at how to do the calculations. The cow is covered on September 10 (10.09). H=10, M=9. We insert into the formula: D = (10+11) (9-3), that is, 21.06. June 21 is the expected calving date. If the sum is greater than the possible number of days in a month, subtract 30 and increase the month by 1.

If insemination occurred from January to March, 12 is added to the month number when calculating.

How long can a cow walk?

Prolonged pregnancy is observed in cows in 10% of cases. Burenki move around for various reasons:

• slow fetal development caused by hormonal imbalances;
• characteristics of the body;
• stress.

On large cattle farms, staff specialists regularly monitor pregnant cows. In households, a veterinarian is invited if there is a delay of 10 days. The doctor will examine the animal to identify pathologies. If the pregnancy lasts 311 days or more, urgent specialist intervention is needed to avoid losing the cow and calf.