ID: 490
THE EFFECT OF LAMENESS ON HRV PARAMETERS DURING MILKING L. Kovács1, V. Jurkovich2, L. Kézér1, J. Tőzsér1
1 Institute of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
2 Department of Animal Hygiene, Herd Health and Veterinary Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
Topic: 3. Bovine Medicine / Claw and Leg Diseases
Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were compared in non-lame (locomotion score: 1–2, N=28) and lame (score: 3–5, N=24) Holstein cows during conventional milking. Stepping rate and HRV parameters were recorded at the evening milking. Number of steps made while the teat cups were on differed significantly between non-lame (5.86±4.93) and lame cows (11.00±8.96) (P<0.05).
HRV parameters were calculated in time (HR, rMSSD), geometric (SD1, SD2) and frequency domains (LF, HF, LF/HF ratio) regarding different phases of milking process: preparation, firs minute of milking, main milking, last minute of milking and in the time between teat cup removal and leaving the milking stall (waiting). HR was higher in all phases in lame cows (P<0.05). Short-term HRV indicators (rMSSD, SD1) were higher in lame cows than in healthy ones during preparation (P<0.01), in the first minute of milking (P<0.05) and during finishing (P<0.05) reflecting a higher vagal activity in lame cows. RMSSD, HF and SD1 were higher; LF, LF/HF and SD2 were lower in lame cows (P<0.05) reflecting parasympathetic predominance and a shift of sympatho-parasympathetic balance towards parasympathetic tone. No differences were found in HRV parameters in the last minute of milking. Frequency-domain parameters were reliable indicators of autonomic nervous system activity during main milking, however, effect of a chronic stressor during shorter periods of milking (preparation, first minute of milking and waiting) was more prominent in time and geometric domain indices.
The paper was supported by TÁMOP-4.2.2. B-10/1-2010-0011 project.