Long-term effects of good handling practices during the pre-weaning period of crossbred dairy heifer calves
The aim of this study was to determine whether applying good practices of handling during the pre-weaning period have long-term effects on behavioral and physiological indicators, health status, and average daily gain (ADG) of crossbred Bos taurus × Bos indicus heifer calves. During the pre-weaning period, 98 crossbred of Holstein × Gir heifer calves were allotted into three treatments: (1) good practices of handling + brushing (GPB; n = 25), (2) good practices of handling (GP; n = 25), and (3) control (n = 48). Every 2 months, four evaluation periods (EV1 to EV4) were conducted to record data. Behavioral indicators comprised time to drive (TD), flight speed (FS), flight distance (FD), and composite reactivity score (CRS). Physiological indicators of acute stress during handling comprised respiratory and heart rates. Health status comprised data regarding occurrence of most common diseases (i.e., pneumonia and anaplasmosis). Collected data were analyzed by using a linear mixed model for repeated measures, Tukey’s test, and chi-squared procedures. Treatment influenced (P < 0.05) TD, FS, and FD but not CRS (P = 0.78). From EV1 to EV3, the control calves had the lowest TD. The GPB group had lower FS than the control but did not differ from GP. The GPB group had lower FD means than the other two groups in EV2, EV3, and EV4. No differences (P > 0.05) due to treatment were observed on heart and respiratory rates, ADG, or occurrence of pneumonia and anaplasmosis. It was concluded that adoption of good practices of handling during pre-weaning period may lead to long-term positive effects.
Attitude Characterization of Dairy Calves Handler’s in Commercial Dairy Farms
In dairy farms, the human-animal interaction is intense, especially with baby calves and the animal's response is linked to the handler's behaviour. Considering that attitude of calves’ handlers can improve animal performance, this study aimed to characterize it in order to understand important gaps. One hundred handlers of commercial dairy farms located in Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Parana were interviewed. The interview was conducted based on a semi-structured questionnaire applied by only one interviewer and directed to calves’ handlers. The questionnaire was developed to collect data attitude of self-reports from people responsible for handling calves. Pearson's correlation between the cognitive, affective and behavioural components of the attitude of calves’ handlers and the performance of calves during the milkpreweaning were very low. Nearly seven of ten respondents had a positive attitude about the statement "care with the prepartum cow may impact calf’s performance preweaning". For 55% of the handlers, calves should receive more than two liters of colostrum in the first meal; however, for 39% of them, the volume should be higher. Only 28% of handlers disagree that a newborn calf should ingest colostrum directly from the dam. Almost six in ten handlers agree that a calf should be fed with dam’s colostrum. Three in ten respondents do not agree with the statement "In the future, I would like to work in another sector". More than half (52%) agree that they know how to raise calves, with higher percentage observed for the largest farm’s handlers. For some variables, the handler has a positive attitude, but in practice, the behaviour performed is not always the same. The behaviour of the calf’s handler may have positive affective and cognitive components. All the handlers knew how to handle the animals or at least knew the importance of the main actions in dairy calves handling. However, the behavioural component is based on actions, differing attitude from behaviour. There is a strong need of training calves’ handlers so their attitude and behaviour may be modulated to improve the efficiency of raising dairy calves. © 2020 Carla Maris Machado Bittar. Hosting by Science Repository. All rights reserved
Water Quality Aspects of Irrigation and Drainage: Past History and Future Challenges for Civil Engineers
This paper presents a brief history of irrigation and drainage related to ASCE activities on its Jubilee. This paper discusses legislation and policies that affect irrigation and drainage practices, water quality constituents of increasing concern in irrigation and drainage practices, and presents a prognosis on the future of declining freshwater resources available for irrigated agriculture and growing water quality problems in irrigation and drainage. Civil engineers in ASCE’s Irrigation and Drainage Division have compiled an 80-year history of highly meritorious service and accomplishments. In the next millennium, civil engineers will face a formidable challenge in managing and protecting the precious freshwater resources in the U.S.