TY - JOUR
T1 - Tactile, Auditory, and Visual Stimulation as Sensory Enrichment for Dairy Cattle
AU - Mota-Rojas, Daniel
AU - Whittaker, Alexandra L.
AU - Domínguez-Oliva, Adriana
AU - Strappini, Ana C.
AU - Álvarez-Macías, Adolfo
AU - Mora-Medina, Patricia
AU - Ghezzi, Marcelo
AU - Lendez, Pamela
AU - Lezama-García, Karina
AU - Grandin, Temple
PY - 2024/5
Y1 - 2024/5
N2 - Several types of enrichment can be used to improve animal welfare. This review summarizes the literature on the use of mechanical brushes, tactile udder stimulation, music, and visual stimuli as enrichment methods for dairy cows. Mechanical brushes and tactile stimulation of the udder have been shown to have a positive effect on milk yield and overall behavioral repertoire, enhancing natural behavior. Classical music reduces stress levels and has similarly been associated with increased milk yield. A slow or moderate tempo (70 to 100 bpm) at frequencies below 70 dB is recommended to have this positive effect. Evidence on the impacts of other types of enrichment, such as visual stimulation through mirrors, pictures, and color lights, or the use of olfactory stimuli, is equivocal and requires further study.
AB - Several types of enrichment can be used to improve animal welfare. This review summarizes the literature on the use of mechanical brushes, tactile udder stimulation, music, and visual stimuli as enrichment methods for dairy cows. Mechanical brushes and tactile stimulation of the udder have been shown to have a positive effect on milk yield and overall behavioral repertoire, enhancing natural behavior. Classical music reduces stress levels and has similarly been associated with increased milk yield. A slow or moderate tempo (70 to 100 bpm) at frequencies below 70 dB is recommended to have this positive effect. Evidence on the impacts of other types of enrichment, such as visual stimulation through mirrors, pictures, and color lights, or the use of olfactory stimuli, is equivocal and requires further study.
KW - cattle behavior
KW - human–animal interaction
KW - mechanical brushes
KW - music
U2 - 10.3390/ani14091265
DO - 10.3390/ani14091265
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85192722814
SN - 2076-2615
VL - 14
JO - Animals
JF - Animals
IS - 9
M1 - 1265
ER -