The biomechanics of mobility: advancement of animal locomotion through kinematic and kinetic analysis

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The long-term vision of my research program is to develop new ways of housing and managing animals under our care by contributing to the knowledge advancement of the behavioral needs in animals used in society (e.g. food production, companionship, research, recreation). The goal of my proposed five-year research program is to characterize one of those behavioral needs: the need for movement in animals living in a movement-restricted environment. Three short-term objectives were defined: characterize the conditions that maximize locomotor activity (Goal 1) and examine whether providing animals with more opportunities for movement improves their locomotor ability through a comprehensive study of how the animal moves (Goal 2) and the biomechanics behind what causes the movements we observe (Goal 3). My hypotheses are that cattle are motivated to engage in locomotor activities and that providing dairy cattle with extended opportunities for movement will improve their mobility. I will test these hypotheses at several stages of the cow's life: as a young calf, as an adult lactating cow, and around calving. Dairy cows in tie-stall housing and calves in individual pens with limited space at the McGill University Dairy cattle complex will be released from their stall/pen and provided with a free-run area. A first set of experiments will be carry out to define the characteristics of this free-run area that maximize locomotor activity (Goal 1). In order to quantify the amount of movement performed by dairy cattle when provided with opportunities to move freely and to identify the type of activities that take place, the cows will be monitored using automated recording technologies validated and available for use in my lab (e.g. pedometers, video tracking system). The effect of providing extended opportunities for movement on cow mobility will be evaluated using a combination of kinematics (3D motion analysis Goal 2) and kinetics technology (force and pressure analyses Goal 3). These analyses will be carried on in my new lab recently equipped with a multi-function platform for gait analysis combining motion, force, and pressure distribution in an enhanced walkway. This research program will contribute to the enhancement of animal care through an increased understanding of the animals' behavioral needs. Factors stimulating movement in dairy cattle will be characterised as well as the effect of increased movement opportunities on welfare, physiology and performance outcomes. With an increase in urbanization, these findings will provide options for Canadian farmers that not only allow remaining farmers to operate systems that are cognizant of welfare and sustainability, but to also meet the production demands of a large urban population. The scientific framework has the potential to be applied in subsequent animal behavior and welfare research to better understand the effect of confinement in other species used in Canadian society.