How cows sleep: in what position and how long rest lasts, impact on health

Where does the zebra sleep?

Baby elephants often sleep on their sides. Zebras. Like domestic horses, zebras can sleep in two positions - lying down and standing. In the first case, the head is placed on branches or a haystack, as if on a pillow; in the second, on the croup.

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Scientific research

Almost all ungulates are in a state of dormancy. It is most often associated with the period of sleep. Cows only need to nap for 10 hours a day. For two hours of this time, the animal can lie in the pasture or in a stall with its neck extended. The eyes will be slightly closed at this moment.

Numerous experiments have been carried out using the electroencephalogram of the animal's brain. As a result, during the period from the study, the appearance of fast impulse waves was noted, which are directly related to the process of wakefulness. Slow waves are associated with a period of slow, deep sleep.

The process of chewing fiber is observed during the period of dormancy of the individual. If the animal is in the deep sleep phase, then the chewing gum goes into a cyclical state.

A French scientist proved that while sleeping, animals in a standing position experienced deep sleep for 50 minutes. At the end of sleep, the cow experienced a surge of vigor. Her appetite and emotional mood increased. During the grazing period, the cow fell into the process of dozing several times. The rest interval was 20 minutes after each meal. This time the cow lay on her stomach and stretched her neck. For 1 month, the animal only needed to take a nap for 150 minutes. Adequate rest increased the volume of milk yield up to 3 times.

Aftercare

The appearance of swelling at the site of surgery is a completely natural process. The swelling decreases within a week, but for this the animal will need to be provided with proper care. At this time, it is very important to maintain hygiene and frequently clean the area where the cow sleeps.

While the cow is recovering, she is under strict veterinary supervision. The animal is kept in a separate stall, contacts with other individuals in the livestock and the environment are excluded. There are no exceptions for feeding and milking. Milking is carried out in a standard manner, the diet is the same as before the operation.

The best time for surgery is spring or autumn, when it is not very hot, but warm and there are no flies or other pests. The hole in the animal's body remains until the last day of life.

In Europe, such operations have been carried out for a very long time. On large farms, installing a fistula helps keep the livestock healthy. In our country, individuals with such a hole evoke pity and interest; sometimes excursions are even organized on farms. No matter how strange it may sound, on some farms spectators are even allowed to independently extract food from the cow’s stomach, however, such an attraction is not very popular.

Swiss veterinarians do not believe that a hole in an animal's stomach should cause criticism from animal rights activists. So that people correctly understand why this is being done, a detailed description of the procedure is given. On large farms, where every individual counts, this is more likely to save the cow than cause harm.

Body position during sleep

When observing cattle, there are three body positions in which a cow can fall asleep:

Lying position;
standing;
On the side.

If a cow lies down completely on her stomach, then this phenomenon indicates that she is unable to rest in an enclosed space. Insufficient free space prevents the cow from achieving the correct body position for maximum relaxation.

In this case, the farmer needs to properly arrange the stall. It is necessary to remove all unnecessary objects from the space. The feeding trough and the sleeping area should be at a distance of 1 m from each other. When arranging the barn, it is important to take into account the dimensions of the individual.

If a cow chooses spacious pastures and meadows for sleeping, this may indicate its importance at the head of its herd. Dominant cattle will always demonstrate their position over other individuals.

Improper living conditions can affect the leadership qualities of females and males. In a herd hierarchy, there can be up to three leaders. A cramped barn or an improperly constructed stall provokes aggression in the animal’s behavior. In spacious areas they feel more protected and free. During the walk, they manage to replenish their wasted energy. Therefore, they prefer to sleep most of the time.

The cows replenish the lack of nutrients and food while in a closed space. As a result, they can consume food products for 5 hours.

Possible problems

The most common hotel problems include:

Prolongation of labor - within an hour after dilation of the cervix, the fetus should come out.
The baby's place (afterbirth) does not come out. The woman in labor is pushing, but the placenta is not expelled. Human help will be required. Then you need to spread out the afterbirth and check its integrity.
With a breech presentation of the fetus, the woman in labor is helped by pulling the calf by the legs. If the bubble hangs, the animal cannot push the fetus out; the calf is pulled, synchronizing the actions with attempts.
If there are twins, the veterinarian is called in advance - the calves' legs often get tangled and they won't come out on their own.

During calving, inexperienced livestock breeders need to enlist the support of a veterinarian in advance so that, if necessary, they can urgently call a specialist or consult by telephone.

The future productivity of the animal and the health of the cow and baby largely depend on how the cow’s pregnancy and calving proceed. Usually calving occurs naturally, but a person must know how to prepare the animal for childbirth and how to help with possible problems.

Milkmaids and farmers know how important healthy sleep and proper rest are for cows. The amount of milk and meat the animal produces directly depends on this. In addition, with poor quality rest, immunity will decrease and the cow will get sick. In critical cases, she may even lose the calf. There are many more interesting things that can be said about how and where cows sleep.

How can sleep affect production?

If individuals are raised to produce high-quality meat, then insufficient rest and lack of adequate sleep negatively affect the taste of the product. In addition, diet also has a significant impact on muscle fibers. As a result, deli meats turn out tough and dry.

As for milk, the percentage of fat content in it is reduced and taste deteriorates. Improper care and poor living conditions for animals provoke the appearance of a sour taste in the product.

To prevent possible diseases, many farmers are advised to regularly walk their animals in spacious meadows and pastures. It is necessary to pay attention to the stall. For each individual it is necessary to provide a space equal to 8-9 square meters.

During rest, the animal should not be tied. This will allow him to fully relax and take a comfortable position. A regular walk before bedtime will help your pet increase its appetite. During this time, the room can be cleaned and the bedding replaced. Such manipulations will help normalize proper sleep.

Selecting a location

Adults prefer to be in a quiet and secluded place. There is no bright light or drafts here, but there is optimal humidity. The choice of such a space is influenced by the temperature regime. Cows love secluded corners where the temperature does not exceed +22 degrees.

If animals are kept indoors, the rest area should be equipped with dry straw or wooden flooring. On large farms, large individuals are not tied to the stall. For this purpose, special large courtyards were provided in which females and males can rest for 5 hours.

To keep cattle at home, special sheds must be equipped. For one individual you need 8 sq.m. free space. The eating area and resting area should be isolated from each other. The cow is not tied up at night or while eating.

Beginning farmers are advised to observe the animal when it chooses a resting place. In the future, this corner or space is equipped with soft straw, sawdust or dry grass. Attention must be paid to cleaning and cleanliness. The fact is that increased humidity and dirt provoke the spread of pathogenic microflora. These microorganisms negatively affect the animal's immune defense and reduce its productivity.

How does hierarchy in a herd affect rest?

Cows are classified as herd animals. They have a leader in their herd. Dominant representatives will constantly oppress individuals who are much weaker than them. One team can have up to three leaders.

The behavior of the leaders can be observed during feeding and sleeping periods. The dominant prefers to always occupy the best places in the entire stall. Most often, the leader goes to quiet and secluded places. There is no sunlight, strong odors or high humidity. As a rule, the litter here is dry and soft.

At this time, other members of the herd are prohibited from approaching their leader at a distance of 3 m. If there is no such place in space, then the leader can doze in a standing position for three hours. At this time, other individuals guard his rest. The cows form a tight circle around their leader.

Important! Numerous experiments on animals have proven that cows can see colorful dreams. Such changes in the subconscious are accompanied by the appearance of periodic sighs and active movement of the eyeball.

If, while resting, the cow begins to inhale deeply and wheeze, then such phenomena may indicate the appearance of inflammatory reactions in the lung area. During sleep, she is unable to control her behavior.

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Want to know everything

Everyone has probably heard sayings like “sleeps like a war horse,” which allude to the fact that horses sleep standing up. Yes, and we have all seen horses sleeping while standing more than once.

So it turns out that all horses sleep standing up?

Horses sleep little and not soundly. At the slightest rustle, the animal awakens in order to escape. Therefore, it is a great advantage for them to sleep standing up. First of all, old or sick horses rest this way because they have difficulty getting up. Younger horses sleep mostly lying down. However, animals of the same group never sleep at the same time.

At least one of them keeps a standing watch and alerts the others in case of danger. First, the horses raise the front part of the body, and then jump up sharply, throwing up the hind part.

The horse can actually rest while standing thanks to the unique “locking” mechanism of the knee joint, which allows him to remain on his feet for a very long time and at the same time relax the muscles as much as possible.

During standing sleep, horses even dream (REM sleep), but in order to have a good rest and relieve muscle tension, the horse must lie down.

The main thing is safety!

Complete safety is the main condition for sleep for a horse. But her and her owner’s ideas about safety may not always coincide. A person believes that a horse in a closed stall is completely protected, but an animal in this enclosed space sometimes cannot get rid of the feeling of isolation from other horses and restriction of freedom, and this, according to the horse’s understanding, is fraught with danger. This is probably because the horse in the stall, left alone, takes upon himself both the duties of a guard and responsibility for his own life.

The best sleep is on the “side”

And yet, standing rest for a horse is just an imitation of sleep. In peace and security, she, like people, prefers to rest “on the side” to standing with her eyes closed, one might even say, “throwing her hooves away.” And scientists suggest that in order to enter the deep phase of sleep, a horse must lie down. Like humans and many other animals, horses have two stages of sleep: non-REM sleep and rapid eye movement sleep (deep sleep). More often than not, REM sleep occurs when the horse lies on its side rather than when it lies on its chest.

How long do they sleep?

It is believed that the average person needs an average of eight hours of sleep per day. During this period, horses spend approximately four to fifteen hours of their time standing, and only a few minutes to several hours lying down. Only part of this time are horses actually asleep, the rest of the time being brief moments of slumber lasting a few minutes each. The total sleep time for an adult horse ranges from a few minutes to a couple of hours per day.

Colorful dreams in the meadow

When people sleep, they sometimes dream. The same thing probably happens in horses. If you observe, through the closed eyelids of these animals, you can notice the movement of the eyes up and down, and the horses also move their legs in their sleep, as if they were trotting. I have heard from small children the question of whether horses have headaches, but who can answer that without a doubt? And we can only make assumptions about whether horses dream. They probably see it. It’s not for nothing that people even created a poetic image of a sleeping horse - an image of the bright, unattainable and beautiful. When you think about him, the mysterious white horse from the cartoon “Hedgehog in the Fog” immediately comes to mind, which ends with the question: “How is the horse doing?”

Why is this necessary?

In a cow, most of the abdominal cavity is the so-called rumen. The volume of this section of the stomach is 200 liters. When food enters the mouth, it is first chewed, then enters the esophagus, and from there into the rumen. This is where breakdown occurs under the influence of microorganisms and bacteria.

Grass and other foods in the diet are crushed thanks to the action of the proventriculus. From the described section, the food passes into the mesh, where filtering occurs, the liquid goes further, and large parts again enter the mouth and the process repeats.

When overeating juicy clover, the animal stops regurgitating food, which needs to be experienced again . As a result , fermentation is disrupted and food is not broken down as required. With such a pathology, a large amount of gases is formed in the cow’s stomach, and in the absence of first aid, such a condition often ends in death. To save an individual, the veterinarian has to puncture the scar with a needle, which causes severe pain.

There is another problem with digestion - acidosis. With this disease, a large amount of lactic acid begins to accumulate in the stomach; it must be removed through a tube using lavage. Afterwards, the microflora must be normalized; for this, the contents of the rumen from another donor cow are used. Medicines along with donor material have to be administered through the hole; You can also take it by mouth, but using a probe.

If there is an imbalance in a cow's diet, the rumen reacts most acutely to this. Its work is disrupted when the farmer begins to introduce too much succulent or, on the contrary, roughage. The problem that has arisen can be eliminated much faster if you give the cow a so-called fistula, and for this it is necessary to surgically make a hole in the side of the animal.

The productivity of the livestock depends on the quality of nutrition and normal functioning of the stomach. You can increase milk yield with this artificially created control.

A fistula is necessary for the following processes:

rapid removal of gases;
ease of administration of medications;
if a foreign body enters the animal’s digestive system, it can be eliminated through an opening in the stomach more quickly;
a great way to conduct additional research on an animal and its organs;
In case of intoxication of the body, it is possible to save the cow.

Many animal advocates think that a hole in the side is a mockery, but in fact, when these problems arise, the cow is able to quickly provide the necessary help. Of course, such a sight looks unpleasant from the outside, but such an addition does not in any way interfere with the cow’s ability to lead a full life and does not cause any unpleasant sensations.

When compared with older technologies used by veterinarians, the installation of a fistula has a number of advantages:

instant access to the animal’s gastrointestinal tract;
you can quickly cleanse the stomach, remove food that has not been digested, which will eliminate the possibility of proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms;
diet planning, since monitoring the digestive system helps to find out which foods the cow digests well and which not.

The only drawback of the new method is its unattractiveness.

What is calving?

Pregnant cows are called pregnant (carrying a calf). The natural end of pregnancy is childbirth, which in an animal is called calving. The birth process follows the usual pattern:

begins with contractions, during which the cervix dilates;
During pushing, the fetus leaves the body through the birth canal.

You can tell by the cow's behavior that calving is approaching. The animal looks anxious, preparing a place for itself. Contractions last several hours, the period of pushing lasts about an hour. The duration of calving is influenced by many factors:

the first birth lasts longer than the second one;
when twins are born, the process is delayed;
a small fetus comes out faster;
weakened cows with problems during pregnancy calve longer.

In most cases, cows give birth on their own and do not need assistance. But experienced livestock breeders keep an eye on the woman in labor, tracking the time and characteristics of calving. You should be concerned if calving is delayed:

in primiparous women it lasts more than 12 hours;
for other cows - more than 10 hours.

The animal may require the help of a veterinarian; it is better to invite him in advance. In some cows, calving lasts longer, but there are no pathologies; this is within the acceptable limits and is an individual characteristic of the animal.

Carrying out the operation

A fistula is always installed surgically, but general anesthesia is not used, only local anesthesia. The described method can be used exclusively on adult individuals; as a rule, heifers are taken after the second birth. The spine remains intact, and the cannula is installed in the hungry fossa.

If you look from the location of the processes of the lumbar vertebrae, the fistula is located at a distance of 8 centimeters from them. The place where the plastic object will be inserted is marked with chalk. It was plastic that became the ideal material for creating a cannula. This material does not oxidize, it does not react to stomach acid and does not react with microorganisms.

The step-by-step process of the operation is as follows.

The animal must first be placed in a special pen. For further work, an anesthetic is administered, which will temporarily turn off pain receptors.
The incision is made strictly in the marked place. First, the scalpel passes through the skin, then the muscles, and only after that the peritoneal tissue is overcome.
With his hands, the veterinarian must find the wall of the scar and pull it towards the hole made.
Without affecting the muscles, the walls of the scar are attached to the skin, only after that an incision is made.
The skin and scar are stitched together.
Before installation, the cannula is warmed up and inserted into the already created hole. There is no need to secure it, since the muscles already tightly grip the plastic. The lugs improve grip.
The hole is hermetically sealed with a lid.

At first, the animal experiences slight discomfort, as after any operation. Complete healing can be observed within a month after surgery.

At the first stage, antibiotics must be injected to prevent the possible development of infection. The edges of the wound are treated with hydrogen peroxide.

Why do cows like silence?

Cattle prefer the absence of sharp sounds during sleep. During their night rest, animals need complete silence. This requires not to perform any activities for 4 hours after feeding.

Experienced farmers do not recommend cleaning the premises, cleaning feeders or replacing feed during sleep. After awakening, the animal becomes less aggressive and pliable. To normalize the cow’s mental state, it is enough to adhere to a certain schedule. The animal must be fed at the same time, walked for 3 hours and milked 4 hours before bedtime.

Regular stress and lack of comfortable living conditions provoke frequent illnesses and worsen the taste of animal products.