THE INFLUENCE OF SOMETRIBOVE DOSE AND DAYS IN LACTATION ON BEHAVIOR OF COWS IMPLANTED WITH PELLETED SOMETRIBOVE

Data were from observations of behavior of 99 lactating Holstein cows during implantations with bST. Implantations were at 14-d intervals du ring 1 yr. Cows on one study received 0, 120, 240, or 360 mg; cows on a second study received 0, 160, or 320 mg of bST per implantation. A c hecklist of behaviors was completed by the recorder and observer for e ach cow during implantation. Cows were also given an overall temperame nt score during each session. Lunging occurred in 49% of the sessions, but bellowing, kicking, and kneeling occurred least. More cows scored in the docile range than in the excited range. Cows habituated to hea d bobbing, back sagging, lunging, moving back in chute, flinching, hea d up, and bellowing, but not to shifting feet, kicking, shaking the he ad, head back, or ears back.