Automated blood cell count: a sensitive and reliable method to study corticosterone-related stress in broilers.

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Effect of repeated ketoprofen administration during surgical castration of bulls on cortisol, immunological function, feed intake, growth, and behavior.

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Cortisol, acute-phase protein concentrations, immune function, feed intake, growth, and behavior were measured in order to determine the effect of repeated ketoprofen (K) administration to surgically castrated bulls. Treatments consisted of control (C), surgical castration at 0 minutes (S), surgical castration 20 minutes after an i.v. injection of 3 mg/kg of BW of K (SK1), surgical castration at 0 and 20 minutes after an i.v. injection of 1.5 mg/kg of BW of K (SK2), or surgical castration following 1.5 mg/kg BW i.v. injection of K at 20 minutes and 0 minutes and 3 mg/kg of BW injection of K at 24 hours (SK3). Castration increased plasma cortisol concentrations in S and K treated animals compared with C, but there were no differences in peak and interval to peak cortisol responses among the groups. Overall, cortisol response was highest among castrates. K treatments decreased this response compared to S alone. Plasma haptoglobin and fibrinogen concentrations were increased on day 3 in the castration groups compared with C. Alternatively, SK1 and SK2 had lower haptoglobin concentrations than S animals. Concanavalin A-induced interferon-ã production was suppressed in S and SK3 groups compared with C, SK1, and SK2 groups. Overall, from day 1 to 33, dry matter intake was lower in S, SK1, and SK3 groups than in C animals. During days 1 to 35, ADG was lower for S, SK2, and SK3 groups compared with C animals. Standing posture was more frequent than lying in the S group compared with C during the first 6 hours after treatment. This higher incidence of abnormal standing postures seen in S was reversed by the K treatments. Conclusions stated that plasma cortisol and acute-phase proteins were increased by surgical castration while immune function, feed intake and ADG were decreased. Administration of ketoprofen effectively decreased the cortisol response to castration, although there were no advantages in treating with 2 split doses of K. Repeating the K dose 24 hours after castration had no influence on changes in acute-phase proteins and immune response. Analgesia with K was an effective method for alleviating acute inflammatory stress associated with surgical castration.

On-farm monitoring of pig welfare by assessment of housing, management, health records and plasma haptoglobin.

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Poor health records and increased levels of haptogobin have been shown to correlate with a poor environment, but there is limited data regarding variation between individual animals. This study was carried out using 78 farrow-to-finish pig farms spread throughout the yearly seasons. Data on housing and management were collected on each farm visit. Pathological findings and blood samples were taken from each pig at slaughter. Ten blood samples were analyzed for Lawsonia intracellularis (PIA), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, salmonella, and haptoglobin values (HAP). Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. Pigs from farms ranking higher in housing (space allowance) and management (sanitation, cleaning, disinfection, climatic control, and breeding protocol) scores showed lower HAP levels and had a lower within farm variability. Pigs infected with PIA or who had lung lesions also had higher HAP levels. Fasting before transport was found to be negatively correlated with lung lesions. HAP levels were lower when pigs with lung lesions were fasted. In conclusion, haptoglobin sampling on the slaughter line was determined to be relevant for integrative welfare assessment of slaughter pigs at the individual level and for longitudinal monitoring at the farm level.

Social discrimination and aggression by laying hens in large groups: from peck orders to social tolerance.

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Laying hens kept in small groups exhibit social behaviour similar to that of their wild ancestors, red jungle fowl, with a dominance hierarchy which is most likely based on establishment fights. In larger groups this system is thought to break-down, and hens may adapt to the new environment with a different social strategy. The present study tested the ability of laying hens living in groups of 10 and 120 to discriminate flockmates from unfamiliar birds. Subjects were presented in test cages with vertical bars, positioned outside the home pens in one of two places. Sixteen subject hens from each group size were presented to their home group (familiar) and a different group of the same size (unfamiliar). Hens in small groups discriminated between familiar and unfamiliar subjects by showing more aggression towards unfamiliar hens. In large groups, the overall level of aggression towards subjects was reduced in that attempted fights were rare, and aggressive outcomes were no different in response to unfamiliar or familiar hens. Certain individual hens in large groups were more likely to approach the subjects showing no evidence that hens have limited ‘territories’ within the pen. Those birds approach and aggressive towards the subjects in large groups were heavier and had larger combs than the subjects. These findings are consistent with idea that in large groups hens become less aggressive and may change their social system to one where dominance is determined through direct assessment and ‘status signalling’ rather than the remembered individual assessment of a small group pecking order.

The effects of feeding method, milk allowance and social factors on milk feeding behaviour and cross-sucking in group housed dairy calves.

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This is a review of factors affecting cross-sucking in group housed calves. Evidence is presented to indicate that cross-sucking is a re-direction of normal sucking behaviour. It is primarily seen when calves are fed milk or milk replacer rather than being allowed to suckle their mother. Prolonging the milk meal by reducing the flow rate (orifice size) in teat buckets reduces the problem of cross-sucking, as does leaving the buckets in the pen after the meal is ended. In large groups of calves, fed via computerized milk feeders, a protective stall for the calf that is drinking is helpful to reduce cross-sucking directed toward the drinking calf. However, both means of reducing cross-sucking in such conditions, reducing flow rate and protecting the drinking calf, reduce the number of calves that can be fed from a feeding station. Additional work is needed on determining the appropriate number of calves that can be fed from a computer controlled station while keeping cross-sucking within an acceptable level.

Fenceline contact of beef calves with their dams at weaning reduces the negative effects of separation on behavior and growth rate.

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Artificial early weaning in mammals is typically accompanied by physical separation of mother and young, termination of milk feeding, and often a change in solid feeds and living environment. These changes can result in both behavioral and physiological indices of distress in cattle. The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that fenceline contact between beef calves and cows at weaning reduces indices of behavioral distress and associated temporary reductions in weight gain. One hundred Angus/Hereford-cross calves were randomly assigned to five treatments for 7 d in each of 3 yr to determine the effect of different weaning techniques on their behavior and subsequent growth. Treatments were 1) fenceline separation from dams on pasture (F-P), 2) total separation from dams on pasture (S-P), 3) total separation from dams in a drylot (corral) preconditioned to hay (S-D-P), 4) total separation from dams in a drylot not preconditioned to hay (S-D-NP), 5) nonweaned controls on pasture (Control). At the end of the 7-d postweaning period, all calves were placed on pasture in large groups. Calves were weighed weekly for 10 wk. In the days following weaning, F-P and Control calves spent more time eating than other calves. The F-P calves vocalized less than S-P and S-D-NP calves. The S-P calves spent less time lying down than F-P, Control and S-D-P calves. The F-P calves spent approximately 60% of their time within 3 m of the fence separating them from their dams during the first 2 d following weaning, whereas F-P cows spent about 40% of their time within 3 m of the fence during this period. Postweaning cumulative body weight gains of the F-P calves were greater than the gains recorded for the calves in the three totally separated treatments. The F-P calves gained 95% more weight than the average calf in the three totally separated treatements in the first 2 wk and were still heavier at 10 wk. It was concluded that providing fenceline contact between beef calves and cows for 7 d following weaning reduces behavioral indices of distress seen in the totally separated calves. In addition, fenceline contact with dams at weaning minimizes losses in weight gain in the days following separation. Totally separated calves did not compensate for these early losses in weight gain even after 10 wk.

Evaluating a concept for an animal welfare assessment system providing decision support using qualitative interviews

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Animal welfare assessment systems (AWAS) have been recently been introduced in various versions and with different aims throughout many farming systems in many countries. Qualitative interviews of farmers were carried out as part of a project focusing on developing AWAS in dairy, pig and mink production systems (26 farms in total). The aim of the interviews was to investigate the farmers’ perceptions and experience of how an AWAS worked, and to explore their expectations for future use of AWASs. All interviews were taped, transcribed and analysed using a grounded-theory approach. The importance of different elements of the AWAS differed between farmers and the AWAS project implementation group. More direct associations between welfare assessment and production results (and other ‘common measures’) were requested by farmers. The whole AWAS package was viewed as being too complex and expensive for most farmers, particularly as it involved multiple assessments over time. A range of themes emerged from the analysis. One of these, here referred to as ‘us and them’, is explored and discussed in this paper. Farmers were concerned that the AWAS could be used negatively in relation to consumers and political decisions, and they underlined that if the AWAS was to be used a decision support tool (ie a system to assist them in making decisions about improvements in their herds and to guide their initiatives and improvements), it should include dialogue and details of local farm conditions. Qualitative interviews were found to provide valuable insight into farmers’ perceptions and expectations of animal welfare assessment methods.

The influence of adverse or gentle handling procedures on sexual behaviour in fearful and confident sows.

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This experiment examined if sows’ fearfulness of humans can inhibit sexual behaviour when humans are or are not present. Also, the effects that adverse versus gentle handling may have on the sexual behaviour of sows was examined. During the third week of lactation forty-eight sows were classified as confident or fearful of humans based on a forced three-step human approach. Six days prior to weaning and until the termination of oestrus, sows were either handled adversely or gently twice daily. At weaning, a human approach test was conducted in the sows’ home pen and in a novel arena. Three days after weaning until the end of oestrus a T-maze test was conducted to examine proceptive behaviour with and without the handler being present. The sows were monitored for standing heat during the T-maze test, in her home stall and trans-rectal ultrasonogram was conducted to ensure ovulation did take place. Whether the sow was confident, fearful, gently or adversely handled, all sows came into heat. In the human approach test, regardless of whether the sow was fearful or confident, adverse handling made the sows more fearful of humans. There was a tendency for fearful sows adversely handled to be more fearful of humans than a confident sow adversely handled. In the T-test conducted before the onset of oestrus, adversely handled sows spent less time standing near the boar pen when the handler was present. The presence of the handler had a similar effect on fearful sows. The opposite reaction to the handler was seen in gently handled or confident sows. During oestrus, fearful adversely handled sows spent significantly less time standing near the boar pen when the handler was present. All other sows spent similar amounts of time close to the boar pen regardless of whether the handler was present or not. This illustrates that fearful sows handled gently can overcome their fear of humans during oestrus.

Decreasing aggression with increasing group size in young domestic fowl.

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The overall objective of this study was to look at the social strategy of domestic fowl living in larger groups use in commercial production systems. The aggressive behaviour of white leghorn female chickens was observed in groups of 15, 30, 60 and 120 in 3, 6, 12 and 24m2 at a constant density of 5 birds/m2. Focal observations of 12 birds per group were carried out from 3 to 18 weeks of age. At all group sizes, aggressive pecking peaked between 6 and 12 weeks and then declined. Regression analysis on means across all ages showed a linear reduction in the frequency of pecks and threats given per focal bird with increasing group size. However, the frequency of pecks and threats received per focal bird showed the opposite pattern, being higher in larger than smaller groups. There was evidence that birds’ to adapt different social strategies with increasing group size. It could be speculated that, while the majority of birds may adapt a tolerant strategy in larger groups, a minority may be despotic, directing aggression indiscriminately towards other birds.

Impact of lameness on behaviour and productivity of lactating Holstein cows.

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Cows from two commercial dairy farms were studied to determine how lameness effects behaviour and milk production. Pens that were far from the milking parlour were used. Locomotion scores were given to each cow within the test pens. The cows were colour marked based on the severity of lameness. Return time from the milking parlour, whether the cows were standing or lying, and milk production/composition were recorded. The results indicated that the percentage of cows lying increased at an increasing rate, distance from the pen entrance was highest in intermediate locomotion score groups, return time tended to increase linearly, and milk and protein production decreased linearly as the locomotion score groups increased. A second experiment showed that the percentage of cows lying increased linearly, distance from the pen entrance decreased at an increasing rate and return time increased at an increasing rate, as locomotion score groups increased. Cows in the farthest pen from the milking parlour were lying the most, distance from the pen entrance decreased at an increasing rate, and cows return time increased as pen distance from the milking parlour increased. A higher locomotion score (greater lameness) and a greater distance from the milking parlour were found to have negative impacts on behaviour and productivity. However, the authors would not recommend that lame cows be housed in pens that are closer to the milking parlour, because they did not find interactions between locomotion score and pen distance.