Trevor DeVries
Dairy Cattle Behaviour
Feed Bunk Design and Management
Diet Selection (feed sorting)
Dr. DeVries' research program focuses on understanding the links between dairy cattle behavior, nutrition and welfare.
His current projects include research on:
Heifer feeding management:
The knowledge gained from this research will provide valuable insight to both farmers and researchers about how to best manage the feeding of these animals to improve efficiency, growth, health and welfare. This research will also provide valuable insight as to how previous dietary experience influences the learning of diet selection behaviour of dairy cattle.
Management of Dietary Selection in Dairy Cattle:
Sorting of a total mixed ration can lead to cows eating a very different ration than what the nutritionist initially formulated, and increase the risk of metabolic problems (e.g. ruminal acidosis). We are currently working on several research projects that are aimed at understanding what factors, including those nutritional, management, and housing, influence sorting behaviour. This research is being done in effort to reduce the negative impacts of this behaviour, and promote the health and welfare of dairy cattle.
Relationship between Lying Behaviour and Mastitis in Dairy Cattle:
Subclinical mastitis is recognized worldwide as one of the most prevalent health problems for the dairy industry. The presence of fresh feed around the milking time is thought to stimulate cows to feed rather than to lie down, thereby potentially reducing the risk of mastitis by providing more time for the teat canals to close before they contact the stall surface and possibly be exposed to environmental pathogens. We are currently conducting research to determine evaluate how standing/lying behaviour relates to the udder health of lactating dairy cows.
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