Competition for water at feeding time—The effect of increasing number of individuals per water dispenser

The aim of this study was to study the competition for water at feeding time by increasing number of individuals per nipple drinker (7.5, 15 or 30 goats per nipple) with regard to physical displacements from the nipple drinker, queuing, drinking time, drinking frequency and time per drinking bout. A group of 30 dry and pregnant dairy goats were exposed to three treatments; treatment 1: 7.5 individuals/nipple (5 days), treatment 2: 15 individuals/nipple (5 days) and treatment 3: 30 individuals/nipple (5 days). All goats were video recorded on the last day of each treatment period to observe physical displacement from the nipple drinker, time spent in queue, drinking time and drinking frequency. The goats’ behaviour was significantly affected by the number of individuals per nipple drinker. Number of physical displacements from the nipple drinker was significantly higher with 30 goats/nipple compared to 7.5 and 15 goats/nipple (P < 0.01), and queuing only occurred in the treatment with 30 goats/nipple (P < 0.0001). Increasing the number of individuals per nipple over 7.5 goats/nipple decreased total drinking time (P < 0.0001) and drinking frequency (P < 0.001). The goats drank significantly faster per drinking bout with 15 and 30 goats/nipple than 7.5 goats/nipple (P < 0.05). Age had a significant effect on the goats’ behaviour; where the oldest goats were displacing others more often from the water dispenser (P < 0.05) and spent less time in queue (P < 0.05). The oldest goats had lower total drinking time (P < 0.05) and time per drinking bout (P < 0.05) compared to younger goats. Age had no effect on the goats’ drinking frequency. In conclusion, increasing the number of individuals over 15 goats per nipple drinker increased the competition for water at feeding time. Queuing only occurred with one nipple per 30 goats and this treatment also had the highest number of physical displacements whereas total drinking time, drinking frequency and time per drinking bout decreased when having more than 7.5 goats per nipple drinker.