Cow Behavior - Articles

Managing the inevitable: Supporting through stress for health and productivity

Nutrition that optimizes the gut microbiome and immunity is key to animals navigating stressful events successfully. Additionally, farms should work to improve facilities and practices to minimize stress.

April 2, 2026

Carie Telgen

As an industry, we have made great strides in optimizing cow comfort, improving animal welfare and finding ways to minimize stress in our herds. However, there are still times throughout their lives that our cattle may undergo stressful events, whether it is social or physical.

Calves can vote too: Preferences for hutch ventilation during summer

Study shows that by 6 weeks old, calves show a significant preference for ventilated hutches, and ventilated hutches can help reduce heat stress. Additionally, pair-housed calves spent 80% of their time together.

May 6, 2024

Kim Reuscher and Jennifer Van Os

A potential consequence of the dual hutch housing system is that when calves choose to share a hutch, this could increase the risk of heat stress during warm weather. We conducted a study at the University of Wisconsin – Madison to see if this concern is warranted and to measure how calves use hutch ventilation.

Working with cattle: Tips for minimizing stress

April 1, 2024

Chris Gwyn

One of our areas of focus is to help producers reduce dairy cow stress. In a recent anecdotal survey, we asked them: Which dairy cow stressor do you think has the biggest impact on you, your cows and your bottom line?

Optimizing fertility: Health impact of lactating cows under Double Ovsynch protocol

Transition cow health is a prerequisite for achieving high fertility in a Double Ovsynch protocol.

March 21, 2024

Augusto M. L. Madureira

Studies show the decrease in fertility can be strongly associated with transition cow health. Utilizing a Double Ovsynch program could increase fertility even in cows with health events during transition.

The secret language of heat stress: What your dry cows are telling you

August 12, 2022

Bethany Dado-Senn

Dry, non-lactating dairy cows are more thermo-tolerant relative to their lactating counterparts, as they are not putting high levels of energy into making milk.

Calving pen management: Insights from the cow’s perspective

May 3, 2022

Kate Creutzinger

Most transition diseases occur during the three weeks after calving, many of which are triggered at birth. Creating a low-stress calving pen can have positive impacts on dairy cow welfare by limiting the amount of time cows spend in labor and allowing cows to perform maternal behaviors.

Is calving painful? What can we do for the calf and the dam?

February 22, 2022

David Renaud and Steven Roche

Do cows experience pain after calving?

This might sound like a silly question – especially for those who have experienced childbirth.

Dairy calves use brushes for more than combing their hair

October 27, 2021

Dairy cows have a natural drive to groom themselves and to scratch those hard-to-reach itches on their bodies. When given the opportunity, dairy cattle use mechanical brushes daily at every stage of their lives.

Animal care includes providing dairy cattle with opportunities for important behaviors

May 29, 2019

Jennifer Van Os

As long as a cow or calf is healthy and productive, she has good well-being, right? No, not necessarily.

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Managing the inevitable: Supporting through stress for health and productivity

Calves can vote too: Preferences for hutch ventilation during summer

Working with cattle: Tips for minimizing stress

Optimizing fertility: Health impact of lactating cows under Double Ovsynch protocol

The secret language of heat stress: What your dry cows are telling you

Calving pen management: Insights from the cow’s perspective

Is calving painful? What can we do for the calf and the dam?

Do cows experience pain after calving?

Dairy calves use brushes for more than combing their hair

Animal care includes providing dairy cattle with opportunities for important behaviors

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Do cows experience pain after calving?

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