Dairy Cow Personality Traits: A New Frontier for Precision Feeding Management with Dr. Anna Schwanke, University of Guelph and Bill Earley, ADM Animal Nutrition

This episode was recorded in Fort Wayne, Indiana, during the 2025 Tri-State Dairy Conference.

Dr. Schwanke begins by describing how we can shape cattle personalities through handling and management and adapting our strategies to accommodate different personality traits so as to not cause undue stress. Personality traits are consistent across time and context, which is nuanced by the other animals in a particular group. There are five generally recognized personality traits: boldness, exploration, activity, sociability and aggressiveness. Some debate exists as to whether dominance should be considered a sixth trait or if it’s just an outcome of the other five. (5:43)

Dr. Schwanke’s research focused mainly on how cows react to specific stressors, such as adapting to an automated milking system. In a robotic system, cows who are more independent, explorative and bold are more likely to do well. Some diversity is good because it can help to minimize long-term antagonistic interactions in a group. If we have cows that are very similar to each other, it will take longer for them to establish a social hierarchy.  (10:05)

The panel discusses where the research is in regard to on-farm applicability and potential genetic components of personality traits. In the future, Dr. Schwanke envisions automated assessments of cow personality through computer vision cameras in the barn, fed into an algorithm that creates a personality ranking of cows based on their behaviors. She also notes personality traits can help predict a cow’s coping style: proactive, reactive and intermediate. Proactive cows are more bold, explorative and aggressive. They thrive in predictable, stable conditions. Reactive cows are more fearful, less active and less dominant. They typically do better than proactive cows in unpredictable or changing environments because they’re better able to modify their behavior to the environment they find themselves in. (14:09)

The panel talks about future research goals in this area, including transition to automated milking systems, modifying feed management for behavioral and nutritional requirements and impacts of commingling stress. The guests also explore behavioral research in calves and brainstorm about future research with this age group, as well as talk about potential implications of making the wrong selection decisions for personality traits. (20:08)

Are there things dairy producers could do to condition calves to be more adaptable to an automated milking system later in life? If a calf is reared in an automated feeding system, do they adapt to an automated milking system more easily? We don’t have the research yet to answer these questions, but they’re great questions. The panel also talks about how to scale up personality trait information to large herds, how precision feeding systems and personality traits might interact and how machine learning and computer vision technology can automate personality trait assessments. (28:46)

Panelists share their take-home thoughts. (35:02)

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