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The present study was carried out on 96 apparently healthy pluriparous buffalo cows with two levels of body condition score (BCS), moderate and high (48 each). The aim was directed to study the influence of listening slow and fast music as well as the effect of BCS on the behavior, daily milk yield and milk cortisol level. Inside BCS level, 48 buffalo cows were divided into 3 groups (16 each). The 1st group was left as control while the 2nd and 3rd groups were assigned for listening slow and fast music, respectively. Listening of sounds was carried out for one month before recording our observations. The sounds were activated at the start of milking period and terminated after the last buffalo cow has left the milking parlor. Behavioral observation and daily milk yield were recorded and milk samples were collected for estimation of cortisol using RIA. The study revealed that presenting of sounds (slow music or fast music) to buffalo cows resulted in standing still attentively without rumination and directing the ears toward the sound source. The latency (minutes) for buffalo cows from beginning of handling the teats till being psychologically and physically prepared to milking reduced significantly (P<0.01) in the slow music group than the other groups. Daily milk yield of buffalo cows increased significantly (P<0.01) in slow music group than that of the control group, while decreased significantly in fast music group. The increase of daily milk yield in slow music group was more significant (P<0.01) in animals having high BCS than those with moderate BCS. Milk cortisol of buffalo cows in slow music group was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that in fast music and control groups (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in milk cortisol level between moderate and high BCS groups after listening either slow music or fast music. We concluded that listening of slow music as an environmental enrichment had the effect of alleviating stress and relaxing the animals which resulted in greater milk yields.
DOI
10.21608/avmj.2007.176575
Keywords
Key words: Slow music, fast music, body condition, Buffalo cows, Behavior, milk yield, Cortisol
Authors
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Department of Physiology,
Fac. Vet. Med., Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
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Animal Hygiene, Zoonoses & Animal Behavior, Fac. Vet. Med.,
Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
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https://avmj.journals.ekb.eg/article_176575.html
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https://avmj.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=176575
Publication Title
Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal
Publication Link
https://avmj.journals.ekb.eg/
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