Theses and Dissertations

Advisor

McGee, Marcus

Committee Member

Harvey, Kelsey M.

Committee Member

Lemley, Caleb O.

Committee Member

Carroll, Erica

Date of Degree

5-16-2025

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Agriculture (Animal and Dairy Sciences)

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences

Abstract

The dairy industry has increasingly prioritized improving animal welfare for intensively housed cows. This study evaluated the effects of environmental enrichment (EE) using an automated brush system on stress physiology, behavior, and productivity of lactating dairy cows. Fifty-nine pregnant and lactating dairy cows were divided into two groups: CON (no brush) and TRT (automated brush system). Saliva samples were collected to measure cortisol concentrations, and behaviors were monitored in the morning (07:00 h - 11:00 h) and evening (19:00 h - 23:00 h) using high-resolution cameras. The results indicated that cows with brush access had lower cortisol concentrations, suggesting reduced stress. However, no significant differences were observed in affiliative, grooming, or oral behaviors between brush users, and milk production remained unaffected. These findings suggest that automated brushes reduce stress without significantly affecting behavior or milk production, highlighting their potential to improve animal welfare through grooming enrichment.

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