Weather and seasonal effects in behavioural patterns for grazing cattle

Abstract

Weather conditions influence grazing cattle behaviour, affecting activities like grazing, ruminating, and resting. Understanding these behavioural responses to temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation is essential for managing livestock welfare and productivity amid changing climate patterns. The study monitored 20 Minhota breed cattle year-round, from January 1 to December 31, 2024 using GPS-accelerometer collars in Northern Portugal. Behaviour and weather data were analysed via canonical correlation and Kruskal-Wallis tests to assess seasonal impacts on activity patterns and environmental influences. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were found between all the analysed behaviours between the seasons. Grazing and walking peaked in spring and summer, following greater pasture availability. Conversely, resting and rumination increased in autumn and winter, reflecting lower energy demands and greater reliance on roughage. All recorded behaviours were influenced by the temperature indexes and solar radiation (p < 0.001) and the temperature-humidity-sun-wind index correlated most strongly with resting time reductions (-0.62). Surprisingly, moderate heat stress did not suppress grazing and other behaviours like eating or playing. Rainfall negatively affected grazing while increasing rumination and resting (p < 0.001). Canonical correlation revealed strong links between behaviour and environment, and the two canonical covariate pairs (CCP) explain 79.9 % of the variation between the two sets of variables. Seasonal and heat-related factors shaped distinct activity-rest patterns, highlighting cattle’s adaptive strategies and the importance of climate-aware livestock management. These findings highlight the need for climate-adaptive livestock management, including strategic feeding, shelter provision, and flexible grazing practices to mitigate climate change impacts.