Milk yield in Vrindavani crossbred cows
The initial milk yield in T1, T2, and T3 groups were 14.21±0.83, 13.88±0.98 and14.75±0.55 respectively which exhibited a non-significant difference among the groups. Throughout the experiment there was a non-significant difference in milk yield among the groups. The overall mean milk yield in T1, T2 and T3 were 12.59±0.09, 12.85±0.07 and 12.57 ± 0.05 respectively.
Table 1. Mean fortnightly milk yield in Vrindavani crossbred cows (kg)
|
Initial
|
I
|
II
|
III
|
IV
|
V
|
VI
|
VII
|
Overall
|
T1
|
14.21±0.83 a
(7)
|
12.89±0.24 a
(105)
|
12.72±0.21 a
(112)
|
12.78±0.24 a
(105)
|
12.67±0.28 a
(105)
|
12.89±0.27 a
(105)
|
12.47±0.21 a
(112)
|
11.87±0.21 a
(126)
|
12.59±0.09 a
(770)
|
T2
|
13.88±0.98 a
(7)
|
13.15±0.21 a
(105)
|
12.89±0.18 a
(112)
|
12.60±0.18 a
(105)
|
12.65±0.18 a
(105)
|
13.12±0.19 a
(105)
|
13.07±0.22 a
(112)
|
12.49±0.19 a
(126)
|
12.85±0.07 a
(770)
|
T3
|
14.75±0.55 a
(7)
|
13.02±0.16 a
(105)
|
12.95±0.15 a
(112)
|
12.59±0.14 a
(105)
|
12.45±0.14 a
(105)
|
12.85±0.12 a
(105)
|
12.51±0.14 a
(112)
|
11.79±0.14 a
(126)
|
12.57±0.05 a
(770)
|
Means with different superscripts in column differ significantly at (P< 0.05)
Milking time in Vrindavani crossbred cows in different groups
There was a significant difference in milking time in the different groups. The milking time in animals during the initial stage was non-significant. The milking time in initial stage in T1, T2 and T3 groups was 11.96±0.44, 11.96±0.85 and 12.25±0.62 respectively. However, during the second fortnight T1 group showed a significant reduction in milking time as compared to T3 group, whereas it appeared aligned with that in T2 group. During the fifth fortnight T2 group showed a significantly lower milking time as compared to T3 group, whereas it was comparable to T1 group. The overall milking time was significantly lower in T1(10.67±0.06) and T2 (10.70± 0.05) over the control (10.98±0.06).
Table 2. Mean fortnightly milking time in Vrindavani crossbred cows in different groups (min)
|
Initial
|
I
|
II
|
III
|
IV
|
V
|
VI
|
VII
|
Overall
|
T1
|
11.93±0.44 a
(7)
|
9.39±0.20 a
(105)
|
10.54±0.11a
(112)
|
10.89±0.14 a
(105)
|
10.64±0.14 a
(105)
|
11.37±0.12ab
(105)
|
10.97±0.11 a
(112)
|
10.82±0.11 a
(126)
|
10.67±0.06a
(770)
|
T2
|
11.96±0.85 a
(7)
|
9.60±0.20 a
(105)
|
10.57±0.11ab
(112)
|
11.05±0.12 a
(105)
|
10.80±0.13 a
(105)
|
11.04±0.11a
(105)
|
11.05±0.12
(112)
|
10.77±0.09 a
(126)
|
10.70±0.05a
(770)
|
T3
|
12.52±0.62 a
(7)
|
9.96±0.21
(105)
|
10.82±0.13ab
(112)
|
11.13±0.13 a
(105)
|
10.95±0.12 a
(105)
|
11.66±0.16b
(105)
|
11.16±0.14 a
(112)
|
11.17±0.11 a
(126)
|
10.98±0.06b
(770)
|
Means with different superscripts in column differ significantly at (P< 0.05)
Milk flow rate in Vrindavani crossbred cow
Milk flow rate differed significantly in the different groups. The milk flow rate among the cows during the initial stage was non-significant. However, during the fifth fortnight T2 group exhibited a significantly higher milk flow rate as compared to T1 and T3. During the sixth fortnight T2 group had significantly higher milk flow rate as compared to T3 group. Overall, both the musical treatments (T1 and T2) appeared efficiently enhancing the milk flow rate over the control.
Table 3. Mean fortnightly milk flow rate in Vrindavani crossbred cow (kg/min)
|
Initial
|
I
|
II
|
III
|
IV
|
V
|
VI
|
VII
|
Overall
|
T1
|
1.18±0.04 a
(7)
|
1.41±0.03 a
(105)
|
1.21±0.02 a
(112)
|
1.18±0.02 a
(105)
|
1.19±0.02 a
(105)
|
1.12±0.02a
(105)
|
1.13±0.02ab
(112)
|
1.09±0.02a
(126)
|
1.19±0.007b
(770)
|
T2
|
1.16±0.04 a
(7)
|
1.39±0.02 a
(105)
|
1.22±0.02 a
(112)
|
1.14±0.02 a
(105)
|
1.18±0.02 a
(105)
|
1.18±0.01b
(105)
|
1.19±0.02b
(112)
|
1.16±0.02b
(126)
|
1.21±0.008b
(770)
|
T3
|
1.10±0.05 a
(7)
|
1.34±0.03 a
(105)
|
1.21±0.02 a
(112)
|
1.14±0.02 a
(105)
|
1.14±0.02 a
(105)
|
1.11±0.01a
(105)
|
1.13±0.01a
(112)
|
1.06±0.01a
(126)
|
1.16±0.007a
(770)
|
Means with different superscripts in column differ significantly at (P< 0.05)
Respiration rate in Vrindavani crossbred cows
Rate of respiration among all the treatment groups remained almost similar with no significant difference. The overall respiration rate in T1, T2 and T4 groups was 22.73 ± 0.34, 22.2 ± 0.41 and 23.47 ± 0.35 respectively. Although the respiration rate was relatively higher in T3 group compared to music exposed groups, it remained statistically insignificant.
Table 4. Mean fortnightly respiration rate in Vrindavani crossbred cows (counts/min)
|
I
|
II
|
III
|
IV
|
V
|
VI
|
Overall
|
T1
|
23.14±1.05 a
|
22.0±1.06 a
|
23.14±0.71 a
|
22.85±0.85 a
|
21.71±0.80 a
|
23.28±0.64 a
|
22.73±0.34 a
|
T2
|
22.28±0.52 a
|
21.71±1.47 a
|
22.85±1.14 a
|
22.28±0.68 a
|
21.14±1.14 a
|
22.28±0.68 a
|
22.2±0.41 a
|
T3
|
23.28±0.94 a
|
23.42±0.94 a
|
24.57±1.04 a
|
23.42±1.04 a
|
23.0±0.65 a
|
23.14±0.73 a
|
23.47±0.35 a
|
Means with different superscripts in column differ significantly at (P< 0.05)
Rectal temperature in Vrindavani crossbred cows
Rectal temperature also exhibited a similar trend as in case of respiration rate among all the treatments. The rectal temperature ranged from 100.08 ± 0.14, 99.82 ± 0.13 and 100.06 ± 0.15 in T1, T2 and T3 group respectively, indicating a non-significant interaction with the environmental enrichment through music.
Table 5. Mean fortnightly rectal temperature in Vrindavani crossbred cows ( 0 F)
|
I
|
II
|
III
|
IV
|
V
|
VI
|
Overall
|
T1
|
99.9±0.34 a
|
99.84±0.41 a
|
100.35±0.39 a
|
100.2±0.7 a
|
100.45±0.23 a
|
99.74±0.43 a
|
100.08±0.14 a
|
T2
|
99.8±0.09 a
|
100.21±0.34 a
|
100.21±0.34 a
|
99.9±0.40 a
|
100±0.31 a
|
99.14±0.41 a
|
99.82±0.13 a
|
T3
|
99.95±0.26 a
|
100.24±0.35 a
|
100.24±0.35 a
|
100.78±0.31 a
|
100.62±0.37 a
|
99.17±0.40 a
|
100.06±0.15 a
|
Means with different superscripts in column differ significantly at (P< 0.05)
Hormone profile in Vrindavani crossbred cows
Profiling of T3 and T4 hormones revealed a statistically non-significant influence of musical enrichment of milking environment. However, cortisol hormone found to be significantly higher in T3 group over the T2 and T1 group. Thus, the results established an important positive interaction of musical enrichment on lowering the cortisol levels in dairy cows.
Table 6. Hormone profile in Vrindavani crossbred cows (nm/L)
|
T3
|
T4
|
Cortisol
|
T1
|
2.56±0.20a
|
43.64±3.21a
|
61.85±10.37ab
|
T2
|
2.47±0.15a
|
42.05±4.60a
|
49.11±10.89a
|
T3
|
2.68±0.15a
|
52.06±3.51a
|
84.45±11.65b
|
Means with different superscripts in column differ significantly at (P< 0.05)
Effect of music on milking behaviour in dairy animals
Measured behavioural characteristics such as entry of animals in milking shed, assembling in milking parlour, fear for milkers, feeding behaviour, feed tossing, feeding time, kicking behaviour, abnormal behaviour and behaviour during knot tieing appeared almost similar in all the three groups. However, a significant effect of musical enrichment was evident on shaking of head and body parts which was more in T3 group (79.50) and reduced dramatically in T2 (50.81) and T1 group (60.58). Milk letting behaviour score was also higher in T2 (74.81) and T1 group (72.89), while least score was seen in T3 group (48.96).
Table 7. Effect of music on milking behaviour in dairy animals
Mean scores
|
Attributes
|
T1
|
T2
|
T3
|
Chi square
|
P-Value
|
Entry of animals in milking shed
|
64.00a
|
60.00 a
|
66.00 a
|
5.28
|
0.155
|
Assembling in milking parlour
|
71.50 a
|
69.50 a
|
55.50 a
|
7.85
|
0.049
|
Fear for milkers
|
67.50 a
|
66.0 a
|
63.50 a
|
7.63
|
0.054
|
Feeding behaviour
|
64.50 a
|
64.0 a
|
62.50 a
|
2.04
|
0.562
|
Shaking of head and body parts
|
60.58b
|
50.81b
|
79.50a
|
14.93
|
0.002
|
Feed tossing
|
66.05 a
|
61.97 a
|
66.05 a
|
1.36
|
0.714
|
Feeding time
|
66.75 a
|
66.70 a
|
65.50 a
|
2.42
|
0.490
|
Kicking behaviour during udder preparation
|
63.44 a
|
61.31 a
|
71.72 a
|
5.72
|
0.126
|
Milk letting down behaviour
|
72.89a
|
74.81a
|
48.96b
|
16.22
|
0.001
|
Abnormal behaviour such as licking
|
65.47 a
|
63.48 a
|
65.56 a
|
7.16
|
0.031
|
Behaviour during Knot tieing
|
62.00 a
|
68.00 a
|
66.00 a
|
2.02
|
0.568
|
Means with different superscripts in rows differ significantly at (P< 0.05)