Reactions of calves to handling depend on housing condition and previous experience with humans.

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

The behavioural reactions to humans and the behavioural and physiological responses to handling and short transport were assessed following exposure to different stockperson behaviour and housing conditions. There were 64 male calves studied. Half the calves were housed individually, and the other half were housed in pairs. In both housing conditions, half the calves received minimal human contact, while the other half were stroked for 90 s per day after milk meals. Following the treatments, it was observed that pair-housed calves took longer to interact and interacted less often than individually housed calves. Human contact with the calves resulted in the calves interacting longer with an unfamiliar person, showing less withdrawal responses when approached, loading easier onto a truck, and having lower heart rates than calves that had received minimal human contact. It took longer and was more difficult to load pair-housed calves onto a truck than individually housed calves. However, pair-housed calves had lower heart rates than individually housed calves during transport. There were no interactions found between housing conditions and human contact. Pair housing resulted in calves that were more difficult to handle and more wary of humans, compared to individual housing. Positive human contact resulted in calves that were easier to handle due to their decreased fear of humans.

The effect of confinement on motivation to exercise in young dairy calves.

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The objective of this research was to determine if confinement of 8-day-old calves for varying lengths of time is associated with an increase in motivation to perform locomotor behaviours. Forty-eight Holstein heifer and bull calves were used in a factorial arrangement with tow crossed factors. Factor A was housing with two levels (individual confinement versus group pens) and factor B was hours in confinement with four levels (6, 12, 24, and 48 h). Individual confinement was in 1.06 m X 1.06 m pens, while group pens had a 3.68 m X 6.09 m outside run and a 3.68 m X 6.09 m covered area that also contained a 3.68 m X 2.44 m area bedded with wood shavings. The calves were placed on treatment when they were 8 2 days of age. At the end of the treatments, a blood sample was taken for plasma cortisol determination and lymphocyte counts and the calves were open-field tested for 5 min. Walk, trot, distance traveled and behaviours performed while standing during the open-field test were higher in the calves kept in group pens, but were not influenced by hours in treatment. Valves confined for 48 h had greater incidences of kicking and falling. Lymphocyte count was lower in the calves confined for 12 h, but there was not a trend across hours in confinement that indicated a consistent effect. Housing or hours in treatment did not affect canter, buck, buck-kick, rear, stumble, vocalization and cortisol concentrations. The interaction between hours in treatment and housing was not significant for any of the variables tested. This study suggested that 2 days may not have been enough time for the effects of close confinement to influence motivation in young calves, or that calves averaging 8 days of age may be too young to display increased motivation for lomotor activity. Confinement of such young calves actually inhibits locomotor activity in open-filed tests.

Air velocity alters broiler performance under harsh environmental conditions.

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The effect of air velocity on weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency was studied in male broiler chickens exposed to a constant temperature of 35 oC, and relative humidity of 60%, and continuous illumination from 4 through 7 wk of age. In two separate trials, air velocity of 0.5, 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 m/s (Trial 1) and 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 m/s (Trial 2) were used. The fifth week was used for acclimation to the targeted environmental conditions. Weight gain was significantly higher in broilers exposed to air velocity of 1.5 and 2.0 m/s in both trials, which coincided with significantly higher feed intake and feed efficiency. Exposure to the low air velocity (0.5 and 1.0 m/s) resulted in weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency that were less than those of broilers exposed to high air velocity (2.5 and 3.0 m/s). In all treatments, broilers developed hyperthermia, but there were not significant differences in body temperature among the birds. It can be concluded that air velocity has a significant effect on broiler performance, the optimal air velocity was found to be 1.5 and 2.0 m/s.

Air contamination in poultry production systems.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 2000 | No Comments

Positive human health effects of wearing a respirator in a swine barn

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respirator, health, nasal

Potential for Evaporative Cooling during Heat Stress Periods in Pig Production in Portugal (Alentejo)

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Do windbreaks minimize stress on cattle grazing foothill winter range?

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Grazing native rangeland can help lower costs of wintering livestock in northern climates. However, extreme cold and wind negatively affect an animal’s thermal balance, increasing energy demand when nutritive value of the forage is low. In a 2 year study, the authors determined whether exposure to winter wind elicits a stress response in pregnant cows (5 – 7 year old) grazing a foothill rangeland. They measured several indicators of stress-response of cows which had (windbreak) or did not have (non-windbreak) access to windbreaks. In winter 1, backfat thickness increased on windbreak and non-windbreak cattle. Body condition scores of both groups were lower at the end of the trial. In winter 2, backfat thickness decreased for windbreak and non-windbreak cattle. Body condition score did not change. Changes in backfat thickness indicate that cattle in winter 1 were catabolizing more lean muscle tissue, whereas cattle in winter 2 were catabolizing more fat. Cattle in access to windbreaks tended to have a stronger cell-mediated immune response than non-windbreak cattle. Birth and weaning weights of calves, and calving interval were similar for windbreak and non-windbreak cattle. Windbreaks were of minimal benefit to cattle grazing our foothill range site. Differences between windbreak and non-windbreak cattle were subtle, primarily reflected in slight differences in immune response and in backfat thickness.

The effect of early age feed restriction on subsequent response to high environmental temperatures in female broiler chickens

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Chicks were assigned to one of four feeding regimens; 1) ad libitum feeding, 2) 40 % feed restriction at 4, 5, and 6 days of age, 3) 60 % feed restriction at 4, 5, and 6 days of age, and 4) 80 % feed restriction at 4, 5, and 6 days of age. From 35 to 41 days of age, the birds were all exposed to 38 A

The working environment in non-cage systems for laying hens.

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Farming practices and the respiratory health risks of swine confinement buildings

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