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Investigation of animal welfare-environment-interaction of dairy cows. Subproject 2 (TUI-Milchkuh)
Project
Project code: 28N1800003
Contract period: 01.01.2020
- 31.03.2024
Budget: 91,717 Euro
Purpose of research: Basic research
Keywords: emissions, ammonia, innovative surface area, dairy barn construction
In the context of the current discussion of surface areas (barn floors) within dairy freestall barns, as well as research topics on factors of animal welfare, this research task provides a common intersection. The surface areas polluted by excrements of the animals are mainly responsible for emissions of ammonia out of the barn. Furthermore, the surface area of the barn functions as a running surface for the animals and should provide a non-slip and safe footstep even under continuous load. The activity behavior and hoof health depends on the floor design. The characteristic feature 'lameness', the third most common reason of loss in German dairy farms, plays an important economic role of the floor design in addition to the factors animal welfare and health; therefore, with increasing importance of the durability of the animals and the dependent replacement costs. Currently, there are no additional studies on interactions of these target figures. The Research and Education Center Agriculture Haus Riswick of the Chamber of Agriculture North Rhine-Westphalia therefore is planning a new dairy barn to expand the possibilities of research and to focus on unique issues. The targets focus is on the interaction between animal welfare and environmental protection in dairy cattle husbandry. Simultaneously, the barn fulfills an important demonstration task at this research location, because many interested farmers visit Haus Riswick and discuss exemplary new and rebuild solutions with the experts. Therefore, the objective of this research project is to consider the three factors 'low emissions, high running comfort and long-living cows' in a three-year investigation phase. In the new experimental barn, important contributions and solutions for decision-making in science, consulting advice and practice are created. The proposed research project on animal welfare-environment-interaction of dairy cows is divided into five working packages. In a first step work packages AP 0 to AP3 are preconnected. During this period (01.01.2020 - 31.03.2021), planning, construction and commissioning of the new TUI research barn will take place by the Chamber of Agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia. When planning and constructing the experimental barn, all structural requirements necessary for the issues specific for the research should be taken into account. At the beginning (AP 1) and at the end of the first research project (AP 5), expert discussions are planned in order to be able to discuss issues and research questions. The second step will be the application for the research project in 2020. In the three years of research (01.04.2021 - 31.03.2024) the measuring technique will be installed in the first year of the study (AP 4) and tested for its suitability during various daily and seasonal conditions. In the second experimental year (AP 5) experiments with different slatted floor variants are planned. On this occasion, different floor variants are simultaneously tested for their emission effects in different test compartments (case-control-study). At the same time, ethological considerations of animal behavior take place (AP 6). In the third year of investigation, targeted management changes will be made. The interactions of the floor with animal behavior will be evaluated and discussed and published as part of an expert workshop (AP 7 and AP 8).
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal Husbandry
- Agricultural Technology Animal Production
- Animal health
- Climate Change
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Institute for Animal Health, Animal Welfare and Behaviour of Farm Animals (ITTN)
