Human contact and the effects of acute stress on cows at milking.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 2001 | No Comments

The behaviour and heart rate of 18 Holstein cows was monitored during milking when the cow was (1) milked in a usual place; (2) milked alone in an unfamiliar room; (3) milked in an unfamiliar room while being brushed by a familiar person. Milk yield and residual milk following oxytocin injections were recorded, and blood samples were analyzed for oxytocin and cortisol. Findings indicated that cows defecated/urinated and vocalized more, as well as made more steps during milking in the unfamiliar room. Providing human contact was able to prevent this increase. In the unfamiliar room, cows kicked and lifted their legs less. Milk yield was lower, residual milk was higher, and oxytocin during milking was lower in the unfamiliar room. Both plasma cortisol and heart rate levels were increased in the unfamiliar room as well. Although human contact reduced heart rates during the initial part of the isolation period, heart rates during the rest of the milking period, as well as cortisol level, milk yield, residual milk, oxytocin during milking, kicking, and leg lifting were not affected by human contact. Cows who were milked in the unfamiliar room showed signs of acute stress, which was apparent in the decreased milk yield, higher residual milk, and reduced oxytocin secretion seen. While human contact did reduce heart rate and some behavioral signs of agitation, it had no effect on other factors like milk yield or hormone response. Therefore, for dairy cows, human contact may not be sufficiently comforting to be able to reduce the endocrine response to stress associated with isolation/a novel milking environment.

Variability in vocal and behavioural responses to visual isolation between full-sibling families of beef calves.

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The impact of factors, that are independent of environmental stimuli, need to be determined, so the value of vocalizations in the assessment of welfare in cattle can be decided upon. The effect that parental differences, sex, age and weight have on the vocal response of calves to one minute of isolation at 166 (day of weaning), 167 , 278 and 350 days of age were examined. The amount of movement during isolation was also observed to determine if a relationship between movement and rate of vocalizations exists. Of the 130 beef calves used in the test, they originated from one of 17 full-sibling families. These families were created by breeding five sires with thirteen superovulated dams. The embryos were then transfer into unrelated cows, who raised the calves until weaning. The number of calves that vocalized on the day of and day after weaning were 33.3% and 34.8% respectively. On day 278, 27.8% and on day 350, 38.6% of the calves vocalized while isolated. The sire and family had a significant effect on the number of vocalizations, the acoustic properties of the vocalizations and movements made during isolation. However, there was not a significant relationship between the vocal responses and movement during isolation. Age and therefore body weight had numerous effects on vocalizations. The older calves tended to produce longer vocalizations. At 350 days of age, age and weight were positively correlated with fundamental frequency and sound pressure level at the frequency of greatest intensity, while they were negatively correlated with the loudest harmonic. Heifer vocalized more than bulls at 278 and 350 days of age, however, there was little difference between sexes in terms of the acoustic properties of the vocalizations. The results of this study show that when calves are raised similar environmental conditions, the parental genetics influence vocalizations. However, the vocalizations may also be affected by sex, age, and weight. This study also found that there is not a relationship between vocalizations and amount of body movement.

A review of the welfare issues for sows and piglets in relation to housing

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Effects of social 'stressors' on belly-nosing behaviour in early-weaned piglets: is belly-nosing an indicator of stress?

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Belly nosing is a behaviour pattern commonly observed in early-weaned piglets. Although, bell-nosing has been referred to as an indicator of stress, the factors involved in its causation are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine whether the social composition (litter mates vs, mixed litters) and density (0.15 m2 per pig vs. 0.4 m2 per pig) at weaning affected belly-nosing. A total of 144 piglets weaned at 12-14 days of age were used in the experiment. Behaviour was observed for 8 h during day 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21 post-weaning. Feed intake, water intake, and growth rate were determined weekly. Blood was collected on sampled piglets pre-weaning and post weaning. The piglets at high density consumed more feed, had lower plasma cortisol, and were less aggressive than the piglets at low density during the period of 3 wk post weaning. Mixed piglets at high density performed less belly nosing at low density at day 10 post weaning. Since belly nosing was not associated with stress of mixing or crowding, it does not appear to be a behavioural indicator of stress.

The effects of selection for lean tissue content on maternal and neonatal lamb behaviours in Scottish Blackface sheep

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British hill sheep play several pivotal roles in the organization of sheep farming in the UK. They are required to give birth to and rear their lambs under harsh extensive conditions. This study investigate whether genetic selection for increased (LEAN) or decreased (FAT) carcass lean content in the Scottish Blackface breed over a 7 years had affected the ability of ewes to rear lambs by altering the expression of maternal and neonatal lamb behaviours. The behaviour of 61 ewes (32 LEAN and 29 FAT) and their 119 lambs were recorded at parturition and over the first 8 weeks of life. Overall there were very few effects of selection on the behaviour of the ewes. LEAN ewes were significantly faster than FAT ewes to start grooming their lambs after birth and FAT ewes tended to withdraw more frequently from their lambs than LEAN ewes. LEAN lambs were significantly quicker than FAT lambs to perform all righting movements (latency to stand), were more likely both to suck, and to play within the first 2 h of birth. The higher rate of sucking in LEAN lambs persisted over the first 3 days after birth, when LEAN lambs were also significantly closer to their mothers than FAT lambs. Thereafter, there were no significant effects of ewe or lamb line on behaviours recorded up to 8 weeks after birth. Overall lamb mortality to 8 weeks was 19.3% and was not significantly affected by lamb line. The results of this study suggest that, although ewe maternal behaviour has not been significantly affected by selection for lean growth, the activity of the neonatal lambs has been affected.

Effects of different sucking systems on milk production, udder health, reproduction, calf growth and some bavioural aspects in high producing dairy cows a

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This article discusses the consequences of different suckling systems in the industrial countries for the milk production, udder health, reproduction and behaviour of high producing dairy cows and the effects on the gain, health and behaviour of the calves. The suckling systems are divided into three different categories depending on the purpose and duration of the suckling period. Long-term suckling with or without additional milking covering the period where the calf has a nutritional need for milk, and short-term suckling, where cow and calf are kept together in the colostrums period only. Long-term suckling without additional milking in early lactation can in some situations stimulate the subsequent milk production to a greater extent than milking alone. No clear or significant differences can be found between restricted and free suckling systems. Most experiments show that suckling decreases the risk of mastitis in the suckling period and in some cases even for some time after the suckling has been terminated. Suckling and milking during the same period is not advantageous in production turns because of a very poor ejection of milk. Long-term suckling can increase the post-partum interval until first heat, in some cases until the end of the suckling period. However, as the cows appear to be more fertile, the net effect on reproduction is small. The suckled calves are usually health with a high daily gain. Short-term suckling have more advantages than disadvantages on production, health and behaviour of both the cow and the calf compared to an immediate separation after birth.

Farm animal welfare in the context of other society issues: Toward sustainable systems

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Animal welfare is difficult to define. Overall, the issue will be driven by public opinion. However, the lack of a definition has not impeded the government from imposing legislation on some animal welfare issues. Measuring animal welfare needs to be a multidisciplinary approach; measures should include: level of productivity, behaviour, physiology, health and immunity, and anatomy. Important societal issues, that affect which production systems are considered acceptable, also need to be taken into account. Some issues include the environmental impact, worker health and safety, consumer economics, public perceptions, community interactions, etc. Sustainable systems tie the most important issues together. The systems that do not negatively impact the environment, the workers, the animals and the community and are efficient and economically competitive, are sustainable. The US and Europe are investing in multidisciplinary approaches to evaluate whole-system impacts. If society demands higher standards of animal welfare or other assurances, the consumer must be willing to pay the added cost. If consumers are not willing to pay, some producers will go out of business. This would also have negative consequences for the community. In the case of international trade, if the domestic product is more expensive because the animals were raised according to higher welfare standards, but consumers can still buy a cheaper product from another country, which was raised with lower welfare standards, then the producers of the domestic product will suffer. In some cases, animal welfare and environmental protection are in conflict. Feeding sows high fiber diets to help them feel full, can increase the effluent. This hinders their ability to meet environmental standards. Another example is with pigs raised outside. To reduce environmental pollution in wet climates, outdoor sows must wear nose rings. The study of animal welfare needs to be a multidisciplinary approach, such that scientists and the public can agree the concept of animal welfare. Also, the effects that higher welfare standards have on other societal issues need to be considered, to ensure the sustainability of animal agriculture.

Reduction in cross-sucking in calves by the use of a modified automatic teat feeder.

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Cross-sucking, the sucking of various body parts of neighbouring calves, is a behavioural problem associated with calves being separated from their mothers early but still being fed milk. This study examined cross-suckling behaviour in calves feed by a typical open feeder stall with an artificial teat versus a modified feeder in which a gate closes behind the calf upon entry. The behaviours were recorded over a 9-week period. It was determined that calves that are provided protection (the gate closing behind them upon entry) would remain in the feeder from longer periods of time after they finished consuming their milk and during this time would suck of the teat even though it provided no milk. In the 15-minute period following milk ingestion, the calves fed via a feeder with a rear gate showed a decreased rate of cross suckling. The remainder of day (following the 15 min period immediately following feeding) there was not a difference in the rate of cross-sucking between the two different feeder groups. Even so by installing a gate that closes upon the calf’s entrance into the feeder, it successfully reduces cross suckling when it is most commonly seen, immediately following the completion of a meal.

The aversion of broiler chickens to concurrent vibrational and thermal stressors

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There are multiple stressors affecting the welfare of broiler chickens during transport. In this study, a preference test was used to determine which stressors birds would avoid if given the choice. The experiment was conduced in a choice-chamber, which had four outer compartments connected to a central zone. Each compartment had a different environment: no applied stressors, thermal stressor, vibrational stressor, or vibrational/thermal stressors. The birds were trained in the apparatus and then tested to determine which compartment they preferred. Training enabled the birds to become used to the environment in each compartment. Each compartment had a distinctive coloured wall so the birds could easily distinguish among the compartments. A feeding station was located at the back of each chamber. Prior to test days, the birds were fasted, so they would be motivated to enter a compartment to find food. The results indicated that the vibration stressor was significantly avoided, but the thermal stressor was not and there was no interaction. Individual birds were found to differ significantly. The avoidance of vibration was expected, but the lack of avoidance of the thermal stressor was not expected. Either the birds could not associate the delayed heat stress with the compartment, or they just did not find it aversive. Studying the effect of combinations of stressors is rare. Using a preference method enables greater insight into the birds perspective.

Effects of early separation on the dairy cow and calf: 2. Separation at day 1 and 2 weeks after birth

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The study examined the behavioural and productivity effects of separating 24 Holstein dairy cows from their calves early (1 day old) or late (14 days old). The behaviour of the cow and calf was observed for an hour prior to separation and for the initial 24h after separation. The social behaviour (licking other calf, rubbing or butting its head the unfamiliar calf and wagging its tail) of the calves at 6 weeks of age was tested by introducing a early or late weaned calf to an unfamiliar calf. The cow and her calf were mostly inactive when they were observed prior to separation. After separation, both the cow and calf from the late separation group placed their heads outside the pens more often the cows and calves from the early separation group. Cows from the late separation group also called and moved around the pen more than cows separated from their calves early. In the two week period immediately following calving, the late separation cows yielded significantly less milk than the early separation cow. Part of the lower milk yield can be attributed to the milk consumption of the calf. The time of separation from the calf did not result in differences in milk yields from 15 to 150 days after calving. The rate of weight gain for calves separated from the cow at 14 days of age was three times the rate seen in calves separated at 1 day of age. At six weeks of age, the calves that were separated from the dam later, exhibited more social behaviours towards the unfamiliar calf than those separated early. The results show that the intensity of the response to separation by both the cow and calf increased with the amount of time they spent together after birth. However, the delay in separation allowed the calves to gain more weight and may have an impact on the social development of the calves.