UK scientists are embarking on a three-year study of cow behaviour to explore how relationships between cows affect their health and productivity.

The University of Exeter study will combine the use of high tech 'proximity collars' with observations of cow behaviour on dairy farms to investigate the social dynamics within groups of cattle.

British dairy farmers produce billions of litres of milk each year - we drink enough to fill 2,000 Olympic-size swimming pools - and emerging evidence supports a link between dairy cow health and welfare and how much milk they produce[1][2][3]. The University of Exeter project will explore this theory further by investigating how social relationships between cows affect their health, welfare and productivity.

Led by Dr Darren Croft of the University of Exeter's Animal Behaviour Research Group, the first stage of the research is currently underway on a dairy farm in South West England. The cows on Orway Porch Farm, Cullompton, Devon, have been fitted with collars that use radio signals to determine their proximity to one another, enabling the team to map social interactions and, in combination with observational studies, determine how the nature of those relationships may influence their health status and productivity.

Dr Darren Croft said: "Emerging evidence on wild animal populations supports the idea that the group structure and relationships between the animals affect their health and wellbeing,.

"Cows are social animals that form important group structures, and the addition or removal of animals from an established group can significantly alter its dynamics. We want to find out just how important these group structures are.

"Dairy farmers take a range of factors into account when deciding how to structure groups of cows. We hope that the results of our study may contribute towards a blueprint for herd management that will help farmers continue to improve the health and welfare of their cows."

Natasha Boyland, the PhD student who will be based in the field observing cow behaviour throughout the study, said: "We will look at the nature of the interactions to see just how relationships are formed and maintained within the herd. In combination with the proximity data findings and other information about the animals, such as their health status, we hope to gather evidence that can be translated into practical advice for farmers when it comes to herd management."

The study is co-funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and DairyCo, the levy-funded organisation working on behalf of British dairy farmers.

The first phase of the study is underway on Orway Porch Farm in Devon, which uses a robotic milking system. The farms taking part in the later stages of the research project will be selected to represent other common dairy farming systems in Britain.

The findings will be delivered in 2015 and shared nationally with farmers who could potentially use them to boost cows' health, welfare and milk production.

Amanda Ball, Head of Communications at DairyCo said: "This study could help dairy farmers understand more about their cows, improve their health and welfare and may even contribute towards helping to secure the future supply of milk to consumers. The dairy industry is worth £8 billion a year to the UK economy and it is important to support research that can help farmers continue to provide consumers with top quality dairy products whilst putting the health and welfare of their cows first."

[1] Rajala-Schultz P.J et al (1999)  Effects of Milk Fever, Ketosis, and Lameness on Milk Yield in Dairy Cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 82 (2) p. 288-294

[2] Rajala-Schultz P.J et al (1999) Effects of Clinical Mastitis on Milk Yield in Dairy Cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 82 (6) p.1213-1220

[3] Green, L.E et al (2002) The Impact of Clinical Lameness on the Milk Yield of Dairy Cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 85 (9) p. 2250-2256