Stall and feed bunk stocking rates impact cows' diurnal behavior and activity in automatic milking system farms  Ali A. Witaifi, Ahmed B.A. Ali, Janice M. Siegford  Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research  Volume 24, Pages 48-55 (March 2018) DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2018.01.004 Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 The layout of the study barn showing the 2 pens used (labeled as group 1 and group 2). Dashed lines indicate that the full length of the barn is not shown. The feed bunk runs the full length of each pen, but there is an alleyway running between the last stalls and the end of the barn. AMS, automatic milking system; EF, electronic concentrate feeder; W, water. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 2018 24, 48-55DOI: (10.1016/j.jveb.2018.01.004) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Figure 2 Average number of displacements of cows from lying stalls for the 3 lying stall stocking rates. Data are presented separately for morning 04:00-10:00 hours, midday 10:00-16:00 hours, evening 16:00-22:00 hours, and total 04:00-22:00 hours. All parameters are expressed as mean counts of displacements per pen ± SEM. Different superscripts indicate differences (P < 0.05) among different treatments within that period. SEM, standard error of the mean. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 2018 24, 48-55DOI: (10.1016/j.jveb.2018.01.004) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Figure 3 Average number of displacements of cows from the feed rail/feed bunk for the 3 feed bunk stocking rates. All parameters are expressed as mean counts of displacements per pen ± SEM. Different superscripts indicate differences (P < 0.05) among different treatments at either feed delivery or feed push-up. SEM, standard error of the mean. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 2018 24, 48-55DOI: (10.1016/j.jveb.2018.01.004) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Figure 4 Average number of cows lying (A), standing (B), or perching (C) inside lying stalls for the 3 lying stall stocking rate treatments. Data are presented separately for morning 04:00-10:00 hours, midday 10:00-16:00 hours, evening 16:00-22:00 hours, and total 04:00-22:00 hours. Together, these time frames encompass the 18 hours of the day, when lights were on in the barn. All parameters are expressed as mean counts of cows per pen ± SEM. Different superscripts indicate differences (P < 0.05) among different treatments within that period. SEM, standard error of the mean. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 2018 24, 48-55DOI: (10.1016/j.jveb.2018.01.004) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Figure 5 Average number of cows occupying feed bunks by either eating or standing at the feed bunk while at the 3 different feed bunk stocking rates. All parameters are expressed as mean counts of cows per pen ± SEM. Different superscripts indicate differences (P < 0.05) among different treatments. SEM, standard error of the mean. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 2018 24, 48-55DOI: (10.1016/j.jveb.2018.01.004) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Figure 6 Average daily activity levels during different lying stall and feed bunk stocking rates. All parameters are expressed as mean counts of activity units per pen ± SEM. Different superscripts indicate differences (P < 0.05) among different lying stall or feed bunk stocking rate treatments. SEM, standard error of the mean. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 2018 24, 48-55DOI: (10.1016/j.jveb.2018.01.004) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Figure 7 Average amount of time spent ruminating among different stall and feed bunk and stocking rates. All parameters are expressed as mean rumination time in hours/24 hours per pen ± SEM. Different superscripts indicate differences (P < 0.05) among different lying stall or feed bunk stocking rate treatments. SEM, standard error of the mean. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 2018 24, 48-55DOI: (10.1016/j.jveb.2018.01.004) Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions