Feeding strategies for managing heat load in feedlot cattle.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 2002 | No Comments

This study was conducted during the early summer months in a feedlot in Nebraska. The average temperature (including night readings) was approximately 23 C, and humidity averaged approximately 85%. Three dietary regimes were used: ad lib, or 75% ad lib for the first 21 or 42 days of the 63 day study. Tympanic temperatures (ear canal) were used as indicative of deep body temperature and thus heat stress. Limiting the amount of feed resulted in reduced tympanic temperatures, but as much as 0.5 C, indicating a reduction in heat stress. Although average panting and bunching scores (indicative of heat stress) were similar among treatments, the proportion of animals that were panting was higher for the ad lib fed animals. Dark coloured cattle had higher panting scores and higher tympanic temperatures (up to 0.2 C) than did light coloured cattle, indicating that solar radiation was a significant contributor to heat stress. These results suggest that restricting feed intake during periods of hot weather will reduce the severity of heat stress. Using light coloured cattle would also reduce the severity of heat stress, as would the provision of shade.

How reliable is temperament assessment in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)?

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

Behavioural differences among animals of the same species are often attributed to differences in temperament. Animals with different temperaments may have different welfare states as they differ in their ability to adapt to environmental challenges. Some species have been classified as either active or passive copers. Previous methods for measuring temperament have been criticized as they were considered subjective and did not measure consistency over time. The current study attempted to address these concerns when measuring the temperament of horses. Three tests were used to record the behaviour of 33 horses: an arena test, response to a person and response to an object. The tests were repeated three times in order to determine if the results were consistent. The horses were consistent in their responses during the arena test. The horses responded similarly to the person and object test, but did not show consistency in their responses over time. Responses during the arena test were not found to predict responses during the person or object test. The horses could not be classified as either active or passive based on the results of these behavioural tests. The responses during the behavioural tests could not be used to predict responses during a startle test or during reintroduction to the group after testing. Their responses were not correlated with their status in the group or with behavioural ratings given by the farm team leader. Due to the high variability in the results of the response to person and object tests, the only test that could be used to reliably assess temperament in horses was the arena test.

A Socio-Cognitive Basis for Strategic Groups: Cognitive Dissonance in Swine Genetics

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

This paper is divided into four parts. The first part provides a review of the psychologist (Festinger, 1957, 1963; Comegys,1976; Cummings and Venkatesan, 1976) and economic interpretation (Akerlof and Dickens, 1982) of the notion of cognitive dissonance, in which Strategic Group theory (Caves and Porter, 1977; Carroll and Swaminathan, 1992; Dranove et al., 1998 ; Tang and Howard, 1992; Thomas and Venkatraman, 1988)), Information Economics (Arrow, 1974) and Structural Hole theory (Burt, 1992) are also examined such that a synthesis of these theoretical perspectives provides a model of a

Relationship between postural behaviour and gestation stall dimensions in relation to sow size.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

The well being of sows in gestation presents challenges as far as welfare issues are concerned. The inadequate space in gestation stalls could cause stress and discomfort, which might be reflected in postural behaviour. This study assessed the effect of gestation stall size relative to sow size on basic postural behaviour, such as lying, standing, and sitting. Twenty-five sows randomly selected from 4 farms were videotaped for 8 h during the light period. The relationships of duration of postures, time taken for postural changes, and frequency of postural changes with stall size in relation to sow size were analyzed. When the stall length relative to sow length was increased (longer stalls, or shorter sows), sows spent less time standing and took less time to change posture from standing to lying. When the stall width to sow breadth was increased (wider stalls or narrow sows), sows could lie down from standing without stopping at the sitting position during the postural change. If the ease with which a sow in a stall can get up and lie down can be taken as an indicator of sow comfort, the results suggested that the well being of pregnant sows in stalls could be improved by a little increase in the space allowance within the stall.

The Biosecurity Revolution

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

Good biosecurity can help to achieve the top parameters in areas of production. Good HACCP procedures should be developed and followed so that production can be sustained. Some good rules of biosecurity to follow include batch rear, all-in-all-out, thorough washing, degreasing detergent, disinfection, fumigation, water system sanitization, and investigation of other disease vectors (such as rodents or insects). Detergent is extremely useful combined with hot water while washing. Check approved dilution rates to obtain the best deal for the rooms on your farm. Proper equipment should be worn when fumigating so that it does not affect the respiratory system. It is not worth it to always buy the cheaper disinfectants because of the new and emerging diseases that they might not protect against. Water lines contain some potentially hazardous bacteria and should therefore be adequately sanitized. Modern biosecurity practices are not as costly as they may seem, plus they increase returns greatly. Biosecurity of pig transport is a major and possibly the most important concern. Biosecurity audits would be able to help maintain an acceptable level of practice.

Dynamics of aggression in the domestic fowl

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

Group size (GS), density and distribution of resources in space and time are manipulated over a wide range in populations of domestic animals kept for agricultural production. Different numbers of animals may be kept in enclosures of the same or different sizes, thereby affecting density. Food resources may be limited and clumped in time or space. Alternatively, food resources may by unlimited and evenly distributed in space to facilitate feed intake and growth. It is important from economic and animal welfare perspectives to understand the potential effects of manipulating GS, density and distribution of resources on aggression in captive populations of domestic animals. Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of GS on the frequencies of different types of aggressive acts performed by 11-21 wk old White Leghorn pullets. In these experiments, aggression was measured in the context of competition for a limited supply of highly attractive food provided in two patches (central and peripheral) in addition to the regular (ad libitum) food supply. The birds were observed in their original groups of 15, 30, 60, and 120 birds (3-4 replicate groups per GS), reared together since hatch, or in temporary sub-groups of the original groups. In the first experiment (space per bird constant, pen size and GS history carrying), the number of aggressive acts delivered per food patch declined as GS increased from 15 to 120 birds. In the second experiment, utilizing birds from the groups of 120 only (space per bird varying, pen size and GS history constant), the number of aggressive pecks delivered per patch was increased as temporary GS increased from 15 to 60 birds. In the third experiment (space per bird and pen size constant, GS history varying), the number of aggressive pecks delivered per patch was constant among groups of 15 birds obtained form the groups of 15, 30, 60, and 120 birds. In all experiments, the central food patch was exploited sooner than the peripheral one. The actual number of birds at a food patch at a given time was more important in determining the frequency of aggression at the food patch than the number of birds present in an enclosure or previous GS experience. When a high number of individuals was present at a food patch, aggression at that patch was relatively was relatively infrequent. The results support the hypothesis that aggression in the domestic fowl is a dynamic process, with decisions about aggressive behaviour being made facultatively according to the relative costs and benefits of different behavioural strategies at a given time and place rather than being fixed obligatorily at a constant level according to the number of birds present in an enclosure and their ability of form dominance relationships.

Preferences of dairy cows kept in unheated buildings for different kind of cubicle flooring.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

This study examined the preference of dairy cows for different types of cubicle flooring when housed in uninsulated buildings in Finland. Cows were given the choice between deep straw and soft rubber mat (with minimal straw); deep straw and sand; and, soft rubber mat and sand, in both summer and winter. The cattle preferred straw to soft rubber mats and sand in the winter. In the summer they preferred straw and soft rubber mats to sand. When restricted to only one type of floor, cows spent equal amounts of time lying on straw and soft rubber mats, but less time on the sand. The results indicate that soft rubber mats are as comfortable as deep straw for cubicle flooring during much of the year, but longer term studies on the use of sand are needed to determine if it is a suitable bedding in cold housing.

Neonatal foal handling

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

HOUSING: Small sow groups need choice

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

The UK experience of group housing gestating sows has provided an important resource of management information. It is well recognized that certain systems, which have facilities for individual feeding, for example, cubicles, feeders and electronic sow feeders (ESF), provide both commercial and welfare advantages. When designing group-housing systems it is important to consider all elements of the pen facilities and management; for example, feeding, lying, dunging, socializing, water provision and previous experience. Each point of contact between sows will reinforce the social hierarchy, whether they are housed in small groups or are members of a subgroup within a large, dynamic group housing systems. In any group size there will always be individual animals that seek isolation, safety and their own company; this is particularly the case in small group sizes. A trial was designed at Harper Adams University College to test whether providing a choice of lying space is beneficial to small groups of sows. Eighty-two, parity two to four PIC Camborough 15 sows ((LRxD)xLW) were housed in groups ranging from five to eight in gestation pens consisting of a bedded lying area, a scraped dunging passage and a set of sow operated feeders. The sows were allocated to one of two treatments: Restricted access to feeding stalls, only at feeding time and free access to the sow operated feeding stalls at all times. The sows were fed once a day and the feeding stalls had a sow operated back gate that provided complete security from other group members. The hierarchy of each group was determined late in gestation and sows were categorized as either dominant or submissive. As a measure of the level of aggression, lesion scores on the skin of the sows were measured throughout gestation. In this study the overall time spent lying down was not affected by the access to the feeding stalls and ranged between 82% and 86% of behaviour observations. However, where sows had free access to the feeder both dominant and submissive sows chose to use this space as a lying area. Indeed one sow would never lie in the bedded lying area. When the lying area was restricted the sows that might have preferred to lie in the feeders were obliged to lie either in the dunging passage or with more intimidating pen mates. The overall levels of lesions were not considered to be particularly high in either situation. This indicated that the pen size and management system was sufficient to minimize aggression, yet, as might have been expected there was a significant difference between the dominant and submissive animals. Finally, even though the overall performance was good there was a significant effect on number born that can be attributed to the greater choice given to the sows with free access to the feeders. Our observations so far would lead us to conclude that at high levels of performance competition for lying space is an important consideration in pen design. In relatively high welfare systems, where sows are given a choice of lying area in gestation, there can be an increase in sow productivity. Also the welfare of low-ranking animals may be compromised if they are obliged to share the same space as their high-ranking contemporaries.

Effect of gestation housing on behaviour and skin lesions of sows in farrowing crates.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

Group housing systems for pregnant sows are set to become more popular, but there is evidence that this development could influence the welfare of sows in farrowing crates. A study was designed to assess the effect of gestation accommodation on behaviour, welfare and farrowing performance of sows in farrowing crates. Sows were housed either in groups or in individual stalls from one month post breeding. On day 110 of gestation, about 5 days before farrowing, sows were moved to farrowing crates and remained there until 28 days post partum. Behaviour and skin lesions were recorded. On the first day in farrowing crates, the stalled sows made more attempts to lie down per lie down event than the group-housed sows. They also spent more time standing inactive and less time lying laterally. During parturition and on day 10 of lactation, the group-housed sows changed posture more often than the stalled sows. The stalled sows had more forelimb lesions in farrowing crates than the group-housed sows. The results indicated that group housing during gestation improved comfort of sows in the farrowing crate with beneficial implications for skin health. However, group-housed sows were more restless during parturition and in early lactation suggesting that group housing may have a negative influence on sow welfare in farrowing crates at these times.