Methods for measuring the behaviour of dairy cows in free stall barns.

Behaviour is one of the most commonly used and sensitive indicators of animal welfare. Methods of assessing behavioural activity have changed in recent years, favouring techniques that automate monitoring and recording of animal behaviour, respect to use video recording system. The objectives of the current study were to determine the capability of electronic recording devices (HOBO Pendant G and IceTag) to measure behavioural activity of cows in comparison with video recording system. Automatic recording devices showed data of high sensitivity (Se ≥ 0.961) and specificity (Sp ≥ 0.951) for lying and standing behavioural patterns displaying predictive values close to 1.00 (PPV ≥ 0.966 and NPV ≥ 0.945). Instead, moving behavioural pattern was inadequately recorded by the IceTag device (PPV ≤ 0.303). Video recording systems provide a complete view of all behaviour and also of the position of the cows in the barn, but it is often time consuming and labour-intensive. Automated measurement of laterality may improve understanding the role of this aspect of lying as an indicator of cow comfort and might be useful for assessing the welfare of dairy cattle. Data loggers accurately measured all aspect of lying behaviour, while the locomotion behaviour (walking) is not well represented. The development of these data loggers may improve the information on activity of dairy cows reducing time and labour required for monitoring of behaviour.