A Comparison of Rice Husks and Peanut Shells as Bedding Materials on Dairy Cows' Preferences, Behaviour, and Health.

ABSTRACT: The provision and quality of bedding materials affect the behaviour, welfare, and health of dairy cows. The objective of this study was to evaluate the preference, behaviour, cleanliness, and physiological status of cows on three bedding materials, peanut shells, rice husks, and a combination of two-thirds peanut shells, one-third rice husk. In an initial experiment, 15 nonlactating, pregnant Holstein cows had free access to all 3 bedding treatments for 39 d. Cows spent more time lying down on rice husk (337 min/d) than on peanut-rice combination (212 min/d) and peanut shell (196 min/d) (p < 0.05), and lay down most often on rice husk (4.35 bouts/d) than on peanut shell (2.55 bouts/d) (p < 0.05) but did not differ between peanut shells and peanut-rice combinations in terms of lying time an

SUBMITTER: Li P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8300374 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature